Birds of Britain 



The young resemble the female, and moult directly into 

 their full plumage in their first autumn. The eclipse 

 plumage of the Drake, which is dark brown above and 

 smoky grey below, is lost about October. Length 26 in.; 

 wing 11 in. 



THE TEAL 



Nettion crecca (Linnaeus) 



This is the smallest of our native species of Duck, and 

 is fairly common throughout our islands at all times of the 

 year, but its numbers are largely augmented in winter by 

 the arrival of vast flocks from abroad. It may be found in 

 winter near the mouths of rivers and shallow estuaries as 

 well as inland ; its food consists of grain, insects, worms, 

 slugs, and molluscs. 



It breeds throughout our islands, but more abundantly 

 in the north. The nest is generally placed at some distance 

 from water on a dry moorland or rough grass-field, and this 

 species makes a rough nest of leaves and grass, lined with 

 down. The eggs, eight to ten in number, are creamy white. 



The male has the crown, nape, cheeks, and throat chest- 

 nut ; an elongated patch of purplish green behind the eye, 

 the rest of the upper parts vermiculated with black and 

 white except the rump and tail coverts, which are black. 

 Under parts white, the lower part of the neck and breast 

 being spotted and sometimes of a yellowish tinge ; flanks 

 vermiculated with black. Speculum green and purplish 

 black. Bill black, legs brownish grey. The female is 



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