NETTIUM CRECCA 205 



island of Curiat, off the east coast of the Eegency, but there seems 

 to be no other record of its nesting in the country. 



In Algeria and Marocco and throughout the Mediterranean basin 

 generally the species is abundant in winter, but there appears to be 

 no recorded instances of its nesting in either of the above-mentioned 

 countries, and probably but few of its breeding in any part of the 

 Mediterranean sub-region. 



Though more particularly a fresh-water Duck, this species is 

 frequently to be met with on estuaries and marshes adjoining the sea. 

 It is not so gregarious as most of the other species of Anatida, and 

 although constantly to be found in flocks, is more often met with in 

 isolated pairs or small parties. It flies swiftly and swims well. As a 

 rule it is a silent bird, but when on the wing, utters a harsh cry, 

 which has been likened to the word " cruk." It feeds on water plants, 

 seeds, worms, snails, insects and small Crustacea. 



The eggs of this species, usually from eight to twelve in number, 

 are of a pale greenish-buff colour and measure about 50 x 35 mm. 



In captivity this Duck has been known to interbreed with the 

 Garganey and with the domestic Duck. 



NETTIUM CRECCA (Liunajus). 

 TEAL. 



Anas crecca, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 204 (1766) ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1900 



p. 71. 

 Nettion crecca, Kaup, Natiirl. Sijst. p. 95 (1829) ; Salvailori, Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. xxvii, p. 243. 

 Anas (Querquedula) crecca, Malherbe, Cat.Bais.d'Ois. Alg. p. 22 (1846). 

 Querquedula crecca, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 378 (1867) ; 



Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 105. 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from North Tunisia. 



Forehead, crown, centre of nape, cheeks, throat, and sides of neck 

 chestnut-brown ; chin blackish ; region immediately round the eye and a 

 broad stripe extending backwards to the nape glossy-green, margined with 

 narrow whitish-buff lines, another narrow line of that colour extending from 

 the eye down to the base of the bill ; back and greater part of the upper 

 plumage pencilled with black and white ; scapulars much elongated, some 

 of them being conspicuously marked with black and white ; upper tail- 



