THE VELVET DUCK. 235 
spring. The Teal breeds in the long rushy herbage about the edges 
of lakes, or on the boggy parts of upland moors.” Very few of 
them are found, according to Mr. McGillivray, in the south of 
Scotland during the summer months. In winter, one of his corres- 
pondents informs him, it unites in large flocks, the drakes having 
then a whistle like the plover; but it has not been heard to use this 
call during the breeding season. The boldness of the female in 
defence of her young is very affecting. Mr. St. John describes an 
instance which occurred in Ross-shire. He was riding along when 
an old Teal, with eight newly-hatched young ones, crossed the road. 
The youngsters could not climb the bank, and all squatted flat down 
while he passed. He dismounted, and carried all the young ones 
a little distance down the road to a ditch, the old bird fluttering 
about all the time, and frequently coming within reach of his whip. 
The part of the road where he found them passed through a thick 
fir-wood covered with rank heather, and it was a great puzzle to him 
how such little things, scarcely bigger than a mouse, could have 
struggled through it. Next day he saw them all enjoying themselves 
in a pond a little distance off, where a brood of Teal appeared every 
year. 
Teal are less timid than the Wild Duck, and the sportsman, there- 
fore, has not the sarne difficulty in getting within shot of them. 
They breed in great numbers in some of the Highland lochs; and 
Mr. St. John says that in August he has seen perfect clouds of them 
rise from some calm glassy lake at the report of a gun. 
The Scoters (Ozdemia, Flemming) have the bill broad, with 
dilated margins, and coarse Jamelliform teeth; a swelling above the 
nostrils, dividing them into two equal parts, both large and elevated. 
THE VELVET Duck (Anas fusca). 
This is the largest of the Scoters, and is distinguishable by the 
white band upon its wing, much-depressed body, thick neck, and 
large, oblong, and compressed head. They make their appearance 
in our bays and estuaries towards the end of autumn, and depart 
about the middle of April. In the evening they proceed out to 
sea in flocks of fifteen or twenty when the weather is favourable, 
returning to the shore in the morning. ‘They fly low, but with 
considerable speed, moving their wings quickly; and on arriving at 
a suitable place, they relax a little and alight on their hinder end, 
the body being kept oblique. On settling, they commence forthwith 
to feed. 
