148 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



bogs, making its nest of rushes, etc., and lining it with 

 down from its breast. The cream-coloured eggs, lying 

 on their bed of dark-grey down, are very pretty. The 

 Teal is remarkable amongst ducks for displaying devoted 

 affection for its young. Besides the resident birds, large 

 numbers come to us every winter from the north. The 

 flight of the Teal is very rapid. 



Garganey B. A very rare duck occurring chiefly on spring 



Q. circia. and autumn migration ; none have been 



seen in Shropshire lately. A nest was 



found near Shrewsbury, about 1888, and identified by 



H. Shaw, from the eggs and lining of down, as belonging 



to the Garganey. 



Wigeon. A small duck, not uncommon during winter, 



M areca pcntlopc. though of late years it has become 



Sept. Apl. less numerous than formerly. It nests 



rarely in Cheshire, near our boundary, 



but not in Shropshire, so far as is known. Mr. Ruddy 



reports that in 1898 it nested at Pale, Corwen. 



Pochard, or Red -headed Poker B. This and the 

 Fuligula fcrina. following ducks are expert divers, 



Oct. Mar. whereas the foregoing swim on the 



surface and only submerge their heads 

 in search of food. The Pochard frequents most of our 

 larger pools during winter, often in numbers, and occa- 

 sionally nests in Shropshire, as at Tong, in 1875. 



Tufted Duck B. Another fairly common visitor, dis- 



F. cristata. tinguished by its black crest and light- 



Oct. Mar. blue beak. It has nested in Shropshire 



in several places. Four broods were 



reared at Sandford in 1891, and it has bred every year 



