56 BIRDS OF ICELAND 



black speculum glossed with green and bordered with 

 buff. The female is a diminutive of the Common 

 Wild Duck, and has a less resplendent speculum than 

 the drake. From the middle of July till the end of 

 September the drake (as is the case with the drakes 

 of all, or almost all, species of duck) puts on a sort of 

 close imitation of the female's plumage called some- 

 times the ' eclipse dress.' 



The food consists of fresh-water plants and other 

 vegetable matter, with mollusca and other aquatic 

 fry ; and the flesh of the Teal is justly held in great 

 estimation for the table. 



Querquedula circia (Linn.). Garganey. 



Native name : ' Taumond.' As far as I know, the only 

 recorded occurrence of this species is the example 

 which Preyer states to have been shot on Myvatn 

 on June 16, 1860, so that it is pretty fortunate 

 in having a local name at all. 



The drake can be recognised by its brown-mottled 

 head and neck, with a long white stripe over the 

 eye backwards ; elongated scapulars, which are white 

 with black edges ; blue-grey shoulder ; green speculum 

 with white border, and white underparts. Length 

 16 inches, wing 7| inches. The female is rather 

 smaller and duller. The eggs resemble those of the 

 Teal, but are a shade larger (just under two inches long), 

 and have no green in them, being of a pure cream 



