iCltAV. XIT. QQ 



I'Aiiv. ;!i\] 



Observers have noted a cliaiige of voice in the males 

 at the breeding season, bnt that is a matter with which 

 the present woik lias no concern. 



INDIVIDUAL NOTES ON 8PECIE8. 



SpntJ)ilL — Their voices, says^ Hume, both when 

 chattering to each other, when at rest or feeding, and when 

 uttering their quacks of alarm, closely resemble those 

 of the Mallard, but may always be distinguished by a 

 greater sharpness ; they are not so sonorous, but they 

 seem to be emitted with greater force. 



Mallard. — The male emits a low, rather soft cry 

 between a croak and a murmur and the female a louder 

 and clearer jabber. Both, on being alarmed, and espe- 

 cially in flying off, quack ; but the quack of the female is 

 much the louder. ( Macgillivray.^ The drake's is a hoarse, 

 faint (piack. 



Gadiuall. — They are more talkative birds than eitlier 

 the Grey or common Wild Duck, and when feeding in 

 undisturbed localities kee]) up a perpetual chatterations 

 not unlike that in which the ]\Iallard occasionally in 

 dulges, l)ut sliriller, feebler, and far more incessant. {Hvnie. 

 Finn is not aware how the voice of the female differs 

 from that of the male. 



Common Teal. — Its quack or alarm-note is very- 

 similar to that of the Grarganey, and may be represented 

 by the syllable knake; but the call-note of both sexes 

 is a sharp Icrik. (Seehohm.) The usual note is a 

 subdued quack, but Teal also have a whistle used chiefly 

 at night. (Fauna.) This Teal whistles and quacks, the 

 female being responsible for the latter sound and the 

 male for the former. (Fiyiiu) 



Wiqeon. — Has probably derived its name from its 

 remarkable* note, but, as usual in sucli cases, it requires a 

 considrable stretch of the imagination to recognise the 

 similarity. The cry of this Duck is a loud, prolonged 

 whistle or scream, immediately followed by a short note. 

 I can best represent it by the syllables m.ee-yv,the first very 

 loud and prolonged, the last low and short. (Seebohm.) 

 The female utters a low purring growl. (Finv.) 



Pintail. — When undisturbed is a silent bird by day 

 and rarely utters any sound, even when feeding, though 

 I have, nays Hume, when lying up pretty close to them, 

 heard a little low chatteration going on, more like the 

 low clucking of hens than anything else. But when alarmed 

 by day, and pretty constantly by night, they utter their 

 ])eculiar soft quack, such a note as one might expect a 

 Mallard, not quite sure whether he meant to speak of 



• In the male. (Author,) 



