4 
* 
<* 
Although various species of reef fish were numerous, no 
seals were seen attempting to catch them for food. There were 
often 8 to 12 fish of a foot or so long swimming along just 
behind the rear flippers of the seals and these were completely- 
ignored. 
LAYSAN TEAL - 
Up to the present time I have been able to find absolutely 
no description of the physical differentiation between the sexes 
of the teal in any of the literature. I was told that we may 
experience some difficulty in distinguishing sex, but upon a 
short examination believe I have found several characters upon 
which a positive year-round identification can be made. The 
appearance of these birds, as with other ducks, changes rather 
markedly throughout the seasons, and at this time of year both 
sexes have whitish eye rings, but the males is much more pro¬ 
nounced while the female 1 s eye ring tends to spread outwards 
to a mottled while throughout the head and neck region. However 
this is extremely variable when on my last visit to the pair in 
the Honolulu Zoo (June l) the male was about equally mottled. 
The 3 characters which do not appear to vary throughout 
the seasons are as follows: 
1. The primary feathers behind the scapulars (when wings 
folded) are dark brown on the distal edge, fading or 
blending to tan at the proximal (top) edge, while the 
female has more or less uniform primary coloration of 
dark brown. 
2. This is also true for'.the outer tail feathers when at rest 
or walking; that is, the male appears to have a light 
colored "V" on the tail region when seen from behind. 
3* For definite sexing on specimens which might be borderline 
cases, the male always has the upper central tail feathers 
sail or semi-boat-tail shaped in a manner approximating 
those of the common mallard duck, although the curve is not 
so pronounced. 
On April 30, 2 teal nests were found in the middle of Cyperus 
laevigatus patches. /One nest had 6 eggs in it with the female 
on the nest and the male close by. The other nest had 4 eggs 
in it with the female on the nest and no male in evidence. 
Although we did not keep count, I would estimate that 80 to 
95 /o of all teal seen were paired. Very few singles were seen 
and it is possible that their mates were hidden in nearby areas. 
No breeding displays were noted and the birds did not seem 
loathe to leave grassy patches when disturbed, so I would assume 
that actual nesting activity had not begun as yet, although 
certainly not far off. A very carefully conducted "headcount” 
of teal was made along the lagoon area from the lone tree to 
