ANSERES. ( 110 ) ANATID^. 



THE TEAL. 



COMMON TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 



Querquedula crecca. 



Mourn Sooty Coots and Speckled Teals : 

 Ye Fisher Herons watching eels : 

 Ye Duck atid Drake wi' airy wheels 

 Circling the lake. 



Burns, Elegy on Captain Matthezv Henderson. 



This pretty little Duck is seen during the autumn, winter, 

 and early spring months on most of the inland waters of 

 the county, including streams and ponds. It is, generally 

 speaking, a winter visitor, coming from the north in early 

 autumn and returning there in spring, but a few remain 

 in Berwickshire and breed during the summer in suitable 

 spots, amongst which may be mentioned the bog on Green- 

 law Common. It frequents the Langton Burn, in the 

 neighbourhood of Wedderburn Castle in winter, while the 

 pond at Wedderburn North Lodge was a favourite haunt 

 before it was removed, as many as fifty having been occa- 

 sionally seen there in a flock. Mr. Lockie says that it is 

 found at Legerwood Loch and on the lake at Spottiswoode, 

 and he mentions that it is common in the Earlston district, 

 and breeds amongst reeds by the side of the Leader. Mr. 

 Johnston, Fellcleuch, near Ellemford, informs me that it 

 resorts to the Whitadder there. According to Mr. Edington, 

 it occurs in Lumsden Moss, and Mr. Hardy says it visits 

 Townhead Mill Pond. When shooting with Mr. Clapham, 



