FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 79 



Anas crecca: Common Teal 

 Anas crecca nim'ia 



Attu: Cheerrh-ooli (obviously the Russian name) 



Atka: Krech-cheer-tha (derivation from Russian is at least suggested by 



the middle syllable) 

 Ataxciyax (Jochelson — probably the true Aleut name) 

 Russian, Commander Islands: Tschirok (Stejneger) 



It is now well established that the breeding species of teal 

 throughout the Aleutian chain is Anas crecca. During our expedi- 

 tions, with only one exception, when a close view of males was 

 possible, or when specimens were collected,- the bird proved to be 

 the common teal. Beals and Longworth collected a male at Uni- 

 mak Island, June 11, 1941. This is the easternmost point for 

 which we have a record of this bird. Swarth (1934) records 3 

 specimens, 2 males and 1 female, taken on Akutan Island, May 24, 

 1927. We found these teals common throughout the Aleutian 

 chain, and they are to be found on most of the islands where 

 suitable habitat is available. Bent lists a specimen collected by 

 Lucien M. Turner on Atka Island, June 28, 1879, and one taken 

 by J. Hobart Egbert on Kiska Island, July 14, 1904. He also 

 states that in 1911 his party collected "quite a series" of speci- 

 mens in the western and central islands, and every male proved 

 to be this form. Laing (1925) records two males taken at Adak 

 Island, April 13, 1924. On our own expeditions, several specimens 

 were taken, including males on Kagalaska, July 4, 1936, and on 

 Amchitka, July 24, 1936. 



Gabrielson noted a pair of common teals on Amukta Island, 

 June 25, 1940 ; he saw about a dozen on Amchitka, June 28, and 

 saw others at Tanaga, Ogliuga, Atka, Ulak, Kavalga, Segula, and 

 Adak. 



These teals are the most abundant fresh-water ducks in the 

 Aleutians. Broods of young were seen on the small islands, 

 Ogliuga and Skagul, and two broods were seen on Kanaga. On 

 July 7, 1937, we found a nest of seven fresh eggs on Amchitka. 

 On July 3, 1936, a female with two downy young were seen in a 

 shallow grassy pond on Adak Island. The natives said that teals 

 nest on Attu, and a male was seen on Agattu, June 15, 1937. On 

 August 23, 1937, I counted at least 42 teals on a lake near Nikol- 

 ski Village, Umnak Island, and Steenis, on the same day, saw a 

 greater number. Pairs were seen on various other islands, and it 

 is certain that they nest throughout the length of the Aleutian 

 chain. 



Stejneger (1887) reported the European (common) teal as an 



