THE TEAL. 



55 



large pieces of water in different parts of the country where 

 it breeds. On the broads of Norfolk it is more abundant. 

 In Scotland one often comes on a brood when fishing the 

 mountain tarns and streams. It is first rate for the table. 

 The male bird has a very beautiful plumage. The top of 

 the head is a rich chestnut-brown with huffish stripes, with 

 a broad patch of rich green extending backwards ; cheeks 

 and side of the neck rich chestnut ; back of the neck and 

 back a mixture of blackish-grey and white. All the smaller 

 wing-coverts ash-brown, the larger tipped with white, and 

 the secondaries a mixture of velvet-black, green, and purple 

 tipped with white; the front of the neck chestnut, lower 

 part covered with dark spots, with a tinge of purple ; legs 

 and toes brown-grey. 



Bewick says : " This beautiful little duck seldom exceeds 

 1 1 ounces in weight, or measures more than 14^ inches 

 in length." 







THE TEAL. 



