286 
AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 
third longest ; fourth a little shorter ; the anterior toes united by reticulated 
webs, of which the outer is deeply sinuate ; claws small, curved, compressed, 
acute, the hind one smaller and more curved, that of the third toe largest, 
and with an inner sharp edge. 
Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the middle of the head and 
tipper part of hind neck, very narrow, elongated, with soft filamentous dis- 
united bands, of the rest of the head aiid upper part of neck very short, of 
the back and lower parts in general broad and rounded. Wings of mode- 
rate length, narrow, acute ; primaries strong, curved, tapering, second 
longest, first scarcely shorter ; secondaries broad, rather pointed, the inner 
elongated and tapering, as are the scapulars. Tail short, rounded, and 
acuminate, of sixteen acuminate feathers- 
Bill black. Iris brown. Feet light bluisli-grey. Head and upper part 
of the neck chestnut-brown ; a broad band, narrowing backwards, from the 
eye down the back of the neck, deep shining green, edged with black below, 
under which is a white line, which before the eye meets another that curves 
forward and downward to the angle of the mouth ; chin brownish-black, as 
are the feathers at the base of the upper mandible. Upper parts and flanks 
beautifully undulated, with narrow brownish-black and white bars ; anterior 
to the wings is a short, broad, transverse band of white. Wings brownish- 
grey ; the speculum in its lower half velvet-black, the upper bright green, 
clanging to purple, and edged above with black, behind margined with 
white, before with reddish-white. Tail brownish-grey, the feathers mar- 
gined with paler ; the upper coverts brownish-black, edged with light 
yellowish-grey Lower part of neck anteriorly barred as behind ; breast 
yellowish-white, spotted with black, its lower part white ; abdomen white, 
faintly barred with grey ; a patch of black under the tail, the lateral tail-- 
coverts cream-coloured, the larger black, with broad white margins and tips. 
Length to end of tail 14f inches, to end of claws 151 ; extent of wings 
24 ; wing from flexure 7i ; tail 3J ; bill along the back 1 X V, along the edge of 
lower mandible 1 T 9 2 ; tarsus If * ; middle toe I/*, its claw T V Weight 10 oz. 
Adult Female. 
The female wants the elongated crest, and differs greatly in colouring. 
The head and neck are streaked with dark brown and light red, the fore 
neck whitish; the upper parts mottled with dark brown, the anterior fea- 
thers barred, the posterior margined with yellowish-white. The wings are 
nearly as in the male, but the green of the speculum is less extensive ; the 
lower part of the fore neck is tinged with yellowish-red, and mottled with 
dark brown, as are the sides ; the rest of the lower parts white. 
Length to end of tail 131 ; to end of claws 1£ ; extent of wings 221. 
Weight 10 oz. 
