May, 1915 
A HYBRID DUCK 
117 
There is but little distinctive in the coloration of this bird to be seized 
upon as definitely determining its relationships, though its size and propor- 
tions are such as at once to attract attention. It is rather singular that upon 
careful analysis of colors and patterns there appears to be such a lack of rec- 
ognizable characters of this sort serving to distinguish immatures of such 
widely different birds as are the Shoveller and the Cinnamon and Blue-winged 
Teals. The specimen in hand, an immature male, is in general appearance 
most suggestive of the Shoveller, but in coloration and pattern exhibits noth- 
ing that might not be included in the range of variation in any one of these 
species. The bill, of course, is the striking feature, for although less exagger- 
ated than in the Shoveller, it is still of unwieldy size. 
In the accompanying table of measurements comparison is made between 
the supposed hybrid and adult males of Spatula clypeata, Querquedula cyanop- 
tera, and Q. discors. Analysis of the figures is of interest. The two teals are 
of approximately the same size, and it will be noted that the bird in question 
in its general proportions occupies a position almost exactly intermediate, be- 
tween the teals on the one hand, and the Shoveller on the other. There are 
certain slight differences in measurements between the two species of Quer- 
quedula-, and in every particular save in bill measurements our bird is nearer 
to discors than to cyanoptera. It would be unsafe to draw any inferences as to 
its parentage from this alone, however, for the crossing of the Cinnamon Teal 
with the Shoveller would naturally result in a bird somewhat larger than the 
former, hence in size rather nearer to discors. The foot measurements of the 
supposed hybrid are noteworthy, for though a relatively large bird, as com- 
pared with the teal, these measurements are almost exactly as in discors. 
Measurements in millimeters of adult males of Shoveller, Cinnamon Teal, Blue- 
winged Teal, and supposed hybrid 
Spatula Querquedula Querquedula 
clypeata 
Hybrid 
cyanoptera 
discors 
no. 415’ 
no. 473' 
no. 178’ 
no. 3955“ 
Length of wing 
243 
200 
179 
189.5 
Length of tail 
85.5 
70 
62 
68.2 
Exposed culmen 
67.2 
50 
44 
42 
Length of hill from anterior end of nostril.... 
49 
39.5 
34.2 
32.5 
Greatest width of bill 
29.8 
21 
18 
16 
Width of bill at narrowest point 
14.5 
13.5 
17 
13.5 
Depth of upper mandible at base 
15.8 
15 
14.2 
13.8 
Length of tarsus 
37 
32 
33 
32 
Length of middle toe without claw 
'Collection of Museum of History, Science 
43 
and Art. 
38 
39.5 
37 
“Collection of F. S. Daggett. 
Though the coloration of this bird is, as stated above, of an undecisive 
nature, there is one feature that is worth notice. The appearance of the lower 
breast and abdomen, reddish ground color with black spots, is at once sug- 
gestive of the adult male of the Blue-winged Teal, and in fact it is very closely 
similar to the markings in the single bird of that species I have had for com- 
parison. 
After all, however, details of coloration do not help much, for in any case 
a mixed parentage, with the Shoveller on one side, and either of the teals of the 
genus Querquedula on the other, might produce the result before us. It seems 
safe to say, though, that some one of these combinations must have occurred. 
Only the Shoveller could have produced such a bill, modified as it is, and only 
