424 GARGANEY. 



and portions of Arabia, In Asiatic Siberia it does not go far north, 

 but it is common in summer down to the Himalayas, and very 

 abundant during winter in India (where it is known as the Blue- 

 winged Teal), China, and the Malay Archipelago. 



The nest is placed among rough herbage in boggy situations, and 

 often in sedge {Cladiitvi mariscus) intermixed with coarse grass. In 

 the 4th Ed. of ' Yarrell ' I inadvertently wrote reed- for ^^^i,^^-beds. 

 Laying begins in the latter half of April or early in May, and 

 the eggs, usually 8, though sometimes as many as 13 in number, 

 are more creamy-white than those of the Common Teal, with no 

 tinge of green : average measurements i'9 by i"3 in. The food is 

 similar to that of its congeners, but, strange to say, this Duck is 

 not, as a rule, a good bird for the table. Its usual note is a harsh 

 knack, but in spring the drake makes a peculiar jarring noise, like 

 a child's rattle ; whence the name of ' Crick ' or ' Cricket Teal ' in 

 East Anglia. In its flight this bird is rapid, and when swimming 

 it sits very high in the water. 



The adult male in March has the forehead, crown and nape of a 

 dark brown colour, which tapers to a point half way down the 

 neck ; from the eye and ear-coverts to the back of the neck a stripe 

 of white ; cheeks and neck nutmeg-brown, varied with short hair-like 

 lines of white ; back dark brown ; scapulars elongated and black 

 with a central stripe of white; wing-coverts bluish-grey; speculum 

 green between two bars of white ; primaries and tail dull brown ; 

 chin black ; breast pale brown, with dark crescentic bands ; belly 

 white; flanks varied with transverse black lines bounded by two 

 broad bands ; under tail-coverts mottled black and white ; bill black ; 

 legs, toes and webs greyish-brown. Mr. J. H. Gurney jun. states 

 that the male Garganey remains for an unusually long period in the 

 plumage of the female. Length 16 in. ; wing 775 in. The female 

 is smaller, and has the head brown with darker spots and lines ; 

 over the eye a light yellowish-white band ; mantle dark brown with 

 rufous edges ; wing-coverts greyish-brown ; speculum dull metallic- 

 green between two bars of white ; chin white ; breast varied with 

 two shades of brown, on a surface of greyish-white ; sides and flanks 

 pale brown, varied with darker brown. Young males, as usual, re- 

 semble females in their first plumage ; they may be distinguished 

 from the Common Teal by their larger size, bluish-grey wing-coverts, 

 and green speculum. 



