TE.\L.—Quer<iurilnln Crecai 



and ill marshy places, choosing the last-mentioned localities for its home. Tlio nest of 

 the Teal is made of a large heap of leaves, grasses, and sedges, lined with duwn and 

 feathers. The nnmher of eggs is about eiglit or ten, and their colour is buffy white. The 

 Teal is caught in decoys together with the Mallard and other Ducks. 



The colour of this little bird is rather complicated. The forehead and top of the head 

 are chestnut-brown, the sides of the face are dark shining green on the upper half, and 

 rich chestnut on the lower half Above and below the eye run two narrow streaks of 

 buff, sharply dividing the green and the chestnut from each other. Tlie chin is black, the 

 nape of the neck and back are grey -white covered with a multitude ol' narrow pencillings ; 

 the wings are brown, velvet-black and purple, with a bold white bar formed by the white 

 tips of the secondaries, and the tail is blackish brown. The breast is white tinged with 

 purple, and covered with circular black spots, and the abdomen is white. In total length 

 the Teal is not quite fifteen inches. The female is almost wholly brown. 



Another species of the same g^nus, the Bimaculated Duck {Querquedula himaculuta), 

 is found in England, as is a closely allied species, the Gakgaj^ey or Summer Teal 

 [Pterocyanea circia). 



The curious Shoveller Duck may be at once known by the form of the beak, which 

 is much ^^■idened on each side near the tip, and bears some resemblance to the beak of the 

 Spoonbill. 



The Shoveller is a winter visitant of this country, and, as is often the case with others 

 of its tribe, a few pairs remain in the British Isles throughout the year. It is found on 

 lakes, ponds, and on marshy grounds, feeding upon worms, insects, and various vegetal)le 

 substances. Snails and the small fry of fishes have been found in the stomach of the 

 Shoveller Duck. The fle.sh of this bird is singularly good, and is thought by some 

 practical judges to equal tliat of the far-famed canvas-backed Duck. 



The nest of the Shoveller is placed near water, but on some dry spot, and is made of 

 long .slender gras.s-blades covered with do\\-n. The average number of eggs in each nest 

 is eight or nine, and their colour is cream-white with a wash of green. The young do not 

 possess the curiously dilated beak. 



The head and upper part of the neck of the adult male are rich green, and the lower 

 part of the neck white, this tint extending to the scapularie.s, and some of the tertials. 

 The back is brown, the tip of the wing, the lesser wing-coverts, and part of the tertials 

 arc. pale blue, the primaries being blackish brown. The upper tail-coverts and tail are 



