THE GARGANEYS. 293 



feathers, like the sides of the neck ; the feathers on the fore- 

 neck and sides of body white, mottled with brown centres ; re- 

 mainder of under surface buffy-white, with indistinct brown 

 centres to some of the feathers, becoming pear-shaped on 

 the under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts white, the outer 

 ones brown, edged with white; axillaries pure white. Total 

 length, 14*3 inches ; wing, 6-8. 



Young Birds. — At first resemble the old female, but the 

 colour is rather darker and the breast is more rufous. They 

 are very like young Teal, but can be distinguished by the 

 absence of the green speculum. 



In post-nuptial plumage the colour of the male becomes 

 like that of the old female, but it can always be distinguished 

 by its brighter green speculum. The hen-like dress is retained 

 for a longer period than in most Ducks, and remains of it can 

 be seen in specimens shot well into the winter season. 



Range in Great Britain. — The Garganey, or Summer Teal, as it 

 is also called, comes to England in the spring, and nests in the 

 eastern counties, but is of irregular occurrence elsewhere. Mr. 

 De Winton writes to me : — " It is possible that the Garganey 

 succeeds in rearing a brood in parts of England not yet 

 recorded. An occasional pair visit Herefordshire, and I have 

 known them to be shot as late as May, when they ought to be 

 hatching off. In 1894, Mr. Ashdown, the well-known local 

 taxidermist, received a pair in the second week in May." 



In Scotland and Ireland and the greater part of England 

 the Garganey is only of occasional occurrence in spring, and 

 again on its return migration in autumn. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The range of the Garganey 

 seems to be more southerly than that of the other species. It 

 is only known as an accidental visitor to Scandinavia, the 

 Faeroes, and Iceland, but breeds throughout the rest of Europe 

 and as far north as Archangel. In Asia it is found breeding 

 in Turkestan and Southern Siberia, but not in Northern Asia. 

 In winter the Garganey is found in the Mediterranean, the 

 Black and the Caspian Seas, and extends as far south as 

 Somali-land, while in the east it is plentiful during the winter 

 in India and China, and goes as far as Borneo and the Moluc- 

 cas. 



