180 Bird - Lore 



ing, placing its breast to the sun. There they remain for an hour or more at a 

 time, some sound asleep, some dozing, but rarely without a trusty sentinel 

 watching over their safety. In this manner they spend the winter months in 

 the Southern and Western Countries. There, indeed, they are far more abun- 

 dant than in our eastern districts, just because the climate is milder, the human 

 population more dispersed, and the damp fields, meadows and savannahs more 

 abundant." 



Audubon's reference to the habit which the Green- winged Teal often ex- 

 hibits of flying in compact flocks has long made the bird the joy of the pot- 

 hunter who may be interested in the number rather than the size of the Ducks 

 he may secure. When the gunner in his blind sees approaching through the 

 air a flock of Teal, often ranging from twenty to forty individuals, he may well 

 feel that here is a possibility of securing half a dozen or more by the single 

 discharge of his weapon. However, when the birds approach within range, and 

 the fowler rises to shoot, if for a moment his head is exposed above the blind, 

 instantly the flock scatters and he is fortunate if he wings a single bird. 



While feeding they often collect in such compact bodies that it is difficult 

 at a little distance to see the water between them. Some weeks ago the writer 

 had the opportunity of observing a flock of Teal at frequent intervals during a 

 period of many days. This was in the semi-arid country of South Texas. For 

 many miles the only water available was a pond of perhaps eight or nine acres 

 caused by the overflow from an artesian well. Upon approaching the pond it 

 was not difficult, by a little search with field-glasses, to locate the Teal. Gen- 

 erally they were feeding in shallow water close along the shore. One day, 

 taking advantage of some intervening bushes, I was able to crawl within ioo 

 feet of eleven Teal that were thus engaged. In gathering their food the birds 

 would tip up with their tails pointing upward and with but a small portion of 

 their bodies exposed to view. It occurred to me that in the event of danger 

 these birds, whose heads were under water, might not be aware of their peril 

 in time to escape. Suppose a Hawk sailing low over the bushes should make 

 a dash for the flock. What chance would there be for those whose heads were 

 submerged to learn of their danger in time to escape? Those with heads in the 

 air would see it coming and could, of course, get away, but what about those 

 that could not see? I decided to try the experiment, and at a time when seven 

 of the heads were down and only four pairs of eyes were on the watch, I made 

 a dash from my cover. With the quickness of thought every bird was on the 

 wing. I could not tell but what those that were feeding got under way just as 

 quickly as those that were alert and watching. How was the signal given to 

 the birds whose heads were down, and how was it physically possible while in 

 this attitude for them to spring into the air as quickly as the birds that were 

 sitting on the water? I have no solution to this problem — I only know this is 

 what happened. 



Many years ago I saw a wounded Green-winged Teal behave in a manner 



