36 



HARDWICKE'S SCIE NCE-GOSSIP. 



LFeb. 1, 1870. 



tangled rank herbage of the marsh without getting 

 lost, has always been to us a matter of wonder and 

 admiration. 



A remarkable instance of affection in a Teal came 

 under our observation towards the close of a mild 

 winter. We were shooting over a wild bit of 

 country where Ducks, Teal, and Snipe abound, and 

 remain annually to breed in limited numbers. A 

 rare spot it was for the naturalist, who might there 

 to his heart's content enjoy that varied description of 

 shooting which to our mind is so preferable to every 

 other branch of the sport. Treading on a patch of 

 soft ground, away went three or four Snipe with loud 

 squeaks in different directions. Down came one, and 



scampered away through the flags. Having pretty 

 well disturbed that particular spot, we moved on, not 

 without regret at having left the Water-rail behind 

 us. Walking towards the head of a pool where a 

 thick growth of flags seemed to indicate the proba- 

 ble presence of wildfowl, we were barely in sight of 

 the water before a fine old Mallard rose with loud 

 quacks, and with outstretched neck and legs, did 

 his best to get away before a charge could reach 

 him. But alas ! he was doomed to die ; and as he 

 tumbled upon the grass with a thump which made 

 one's heart rejoice, a couple of Teal, alarmed at the 

 report, sprang from the flags within a few yards of 

 him. 



Tig. 50. The Teal {Anas crccca). 



another was missed ; before we could load two 

 more had gone away. Picking up the product of 

 the first barrel, we almost trod upon a Water-rail 

 which rose close to us, and with long legs dangling 

 down, flitted over the rushes towards the water. 

 But so good a bird for the table could not be 

 allowed to go, and so down it came, an easy shot, and 

 was lost to sight amongst the rank herbage. Un- 

 fortunately it was only winged, and being without a 

 dog that day, we spent ten minutes or a quarter of 

 an hour vainly endeavouring to find it. Meantime, 

 however, we had put up and brought down another 

 Snipe, and caught a hasty view of a Moorhen as it 



The duck being the nearest received the contents 

 of the remaining barrel, and fell dead upon the soft 

 mud at the very edge of the water. While specu- 

 lating upon our good luck, and putting in two fresh 

 cartridges, the cock Teal, which had flown up to 

 the other end of the pool when his'mate fell, turned 

 back, and after flying up and down several times 

 with mournful notes, returned to the spot whence 

 he rose, and pitched upon the mud close to the 

 dead duck. Here he remained for some seconds, 

 nodding his head and curtseying, as if about to take 

 wing, — uttering a low note the while as if to entice 

 away the duck, whom he appeared so loth to leave. 



