190 



UUCK GROUP 



The non-breeding plumage of the drake is acquired about June, 

 and retained till October ; and during this period it is exceedingly 

 difficult to distinguish the two sexes, although the drake has a more 

 lead-coloured head, without a pale streak above the eye. 



Although occasionally wandering to Greenland and the eastern 

 United States from one side of the Old World, and to Alaska from the 

 other, the teal, unlike the mallard and gadwall, is properly restricted 

 to the eastern hemisphere, where it extends from Iceland across 

 northern Europe and Asia to Bering Island, with latitude 70 as the 

 approximate limit of its breeding-range. Southwards teal have been 

 found nesting in the Azores and Madeira, although sparingly ; and 



in southern Europe 

 gencrall}' these little 

 ducks are much less 

 abundant during the 

 summer than they are 

 in more northern 

 countries. On the 

 other hand, in the 

 winter months teal 

 visit the Mediterran- 

 ean countries, south- 

 eastern Asia, India, 

 Ceylon, Burma, and 

 China in vast numbers. 

 Even the British Isles 

 come within the limits 

 of the area in which 

 teal are more numerous in winter than in summer, although many of 

 these birds breed in all parts of the United Kingdom, but more especi- 

 ally in the north. A nest has been recorded from the Isle of Lewis 

 in the Hebrides. 



In India the great rush of teal takes place in October, and these 

 birds remain in the j)lains till the following April. Both in India and 

 in the British Isles teal in winter may be found on inland waters of 

 all descriptions in small parties, or, more rarely, in pairs, singly, or in 

 large flocks ; sometimes associating with wigeon and mallard, although 

 even then keejiing more or less to themselves, but on other occasions 

 quite alone. Although their usual note is of the type common to the 

 duck-tribe in general, but more subdued than in most other species, 

 teal also utter a low whistling sound, more frequently heard at night 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND WARD STUOlOS 



TKAL (duck). 



