THE SHOVELLER DUCK 183 



On the 18th of January 1903, 171 were counted ; 

 on the 6th of March 1905, 443. Since then it is 

 estimated that over 500 Shovellers take up their 

 winter quarters with us." 



THE TEAL 



Querquedula crecca 



Arabic, Sharshare. 



Head and neck chestnut-brown ; a patch of green encircles 

 the eyes and cheeks, a light buff' streak divides the green from 

 the brown ; neck, back, and flanks grey, composed of delicate 

 alternate black and white wavy lines. Scapulars white with 

 rich black on their outer webs ; green metallic bar on wing ; 

 under-parts white ; breast spotted with buffish-black ; under- 

 tail coverts a clear, brilliant yellow-buff; beak and legs black; 

 eyes brown. The female looks smaller than the male, and 

 is a sober-coloured brown bird, with darker, almost black, 

 markings. Length, 15 5 inches. 



As far as my own experience goes, I have never 

 seen any really large flock of duck, of whatever 

 kind, but there have been Teal among them. I 

 do not care to say that I think this is the very 

 commonest of all the duck tribe. It is certainly 

 met with very frequently, but Captain Shelley 

 holds that it is absolutely "the most abundant 

 species of water - fowl throughout Egypt," and 



