144 



British Birds. 



serve to distinguish the Pin-tail, which has also a bronzy-green speculum, bordered 

 with black above and with white below. The speculum is present in the old female, 

 but is of a bronzv-.green tint. The bill is black, but inclines to leaden-blue on the 

 sides of the upper mandible. The present species is believed to breed in the north 

 of Scotland, but the fact is not yet proved, and it is known principally as a winter 

 visitor. It is also said to have nested in Ireland, but no recent authentic instances 

 of its doing so are known. It breeds throughout the Arctic Regions of Ivurope, 

 Asia and America, and e.xtends in winter far to the south of its nesting-range. It is 

 a fresh-water Duck, only frequenting sea-coasts during migration. At other times 

 it affects fresh-water lakes, rivers and swamps, where it feeds, like the Mallard, 

 on water plants and insects, and it also visits the stubble-fields to pick 

 up grain. The nest is generally placed at some distance from water among 

 shrubs in dry places: it is rather deep and is lined with grass and sedges, 

 as well as with the bird's down. The eggs are from seven to ten in number, 

 and of a pale greenish-buff colour ; they measure from two to nearly two- 

 and-a-half inches. 



This is a small species of Teal which dilTers from the 

 true Teal in having a soft membrane fringing the terminal 

 portion of the upper mandible, and in its blue upper wing- 

 coverts, in which character it resembles the Shoveller. It 

 visits England in the spring and breeds m the eastern counties, and probably 

 in other parts of England. In other portions of Great Britain it is only 

 known as an occasional visitor on migration. It nests throughout the greater 

 part of Europe and extends to Central Asia, but does not breed very far 

 north. It is a ver\- shy and silent species, and leasees for the south at once 

 on the approach of the cold weather. The nest is always placed in a retired 

 situation, often far away from water, on the ground in a coin-held or under 

 the shelter of a busli. It is a deep 

 depression in the ground lined with 

 grass and leaves, and with plent}' 

 of down, The eggs are from eight 

 to twelve in number, of a buffy-white 

 or cream colour, and they measure 

 about one-and-three-quarters of an 

 inch in length. 



THE GARGANEY. 

 (Qucrquediila 



qitci (jitediila.) 



A male of this 

 North American 

 species has been 

 shot near Dum- 

 fries, and it ap- 

 pears to be of rare and accidental 



THE BLUE- 

 WINGED TEAL 

 [Querqnedula 

 discors.) 



The G.arganev. 



