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BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



GARGANEY [Querquedula circia) 



Local Names. — Crick, Cricket Teal, Gargle Teal, Pied Wigeon, Pied 

 Wiggon, Red Wiggon, Summer Duck, Summer Teal. 



Haunt. — Fresh waters. 



Nesting Period. — April and May. 



Site of Xest. — Among aquatic herbage, the nest being well hidden. 



Materials Used. — Water plants and surrounding herbage, lined with 

 the bird's own down. 



Eggs. — Ten to Twelve. Creamy-white or buff, resembling those of 

 Teal. 



Food. — Fish and their spawn, aquatic insects, frogs, and grain. 



Voice. — A curious jarring note has resulted in this Duck being called 

 the Cricket Teal in some localities. It is the male that utters 

 this low note, but when on the wing a sharp, double quacking 

 cry is also emitted. 



Chief Features. — A very swift bird upon the wing, flying with neck 

 outstretched and the legs hanging down. It resembles the 

 Teal in many of its habits, and is a near relative of that species. 



Plumage. — Black bill; dark brown on head, crown, nape, and back 

 a strip of white extends from the eye to the back of neck 

 cheeks and neck light brown, with short, hair-like lines of white 

 black scapulars, with white stripe in centre; bluish-grey on 

 wing-coverts; green speculum, bordered on either side with 

 two white bars ; dull-brown primaries and tail ; black chin ; 

 pale-brown breast, with darker bands of a crescent order; white 

 belly ; flanks with transverse lines of black ; tail-coverts under- 

 neath black and white; greyish-brown legs and feet. The 

 female is mottled-brown, with the eye stripe yellowish-white, 

 and the speculum dull metallic green, barred on either side 

 with white. Length. — Sixteen inches. 



GOLDFINCH [Carduelis elegans) 



Local Naynes. — Brancher, Chalandire, Chardonneret, Coalhead, Draw 

 Water, Fool's Coat, Goldie, Goldspink, Gooldie, Goudspink, 

 Grey Kate, Grey Pate (young), Jack Nicker, King Harry, 

 Proud-Tail, Proud-Tailor, Redcap, Red-Fronted Thistle Finch. 

 Seven-Coloured Linnet. Sheriff's Man, Sweet William, Thistle 

 Finch. 



Haunt, — Orchards, large gardens, commons, and woods. 



Nesting Period. — May onwards. 



Site of Nest. — Fruit trees in an orchard or garden, also spruce fir, 

 evergreens, and hedgerows. 



