ANATID/E. 



419 



THE TEAL. 



Querquf;dula crecca (Linnreus). 



It is chiefly between September and the following spring that 

 this, the smallest of our indigenous Ducks, is really abundant 

 throughout the British Islands ; but it nests, sparsely, throughout 

 the south of England, and occasionally along the valley of the 

 Thames. In the eastern counties it is a fairly numerous breeder, 

 and north of the Trent it becomes more frequent ; while it 

 tinds suitable retreats in the Welsh bogs, as well as in the mosses 

 of Lancashire and Cumberland. Except in the Outer Hebrides, 

 where it is rare even in winter, it is a widely distributed breeding- 

 species in Scotland, though scarce in the Orkneys and Shetlands. 

 It is resident in many parts of Ireland, and is abundant there during 

 the cold season. 



During summer the Teal is common in Iceland and the north of 

 Europe, while a few pairs nest locally as far south as the Mediter- 

 ranean, and even in the Azores. In cold weather it is found all 

 over the Continent, wherever fresh-water does not freeze for any 

 length of time , it visits Madeira, the Canaries and North Africa ; is 



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