114 COMMON TEAL. 



sort to the inundated lands, parties assembling from 

 various parts of the neighbourhood ; and in severe 

 winters it may be met with in ditches or rivers, 

 where, however, it does not seem to be at home, and 

 ceases to frequent, so soon as support can be found 

 elsewhere. The teal is not nearly so shy a bird as 

 many of our wild fowl, and with ordinary care may 

 always be approached ; when disturbed, it flies in 

 circles around, wheeling somewhat like plovers ; 

 and, if taken at the proper time, several may often 

 be procured at a shot. We have found the nest, 

 generally at a distance from the water, placed dry, 

 often among brush or young plantations, formed 

 upon the ground, upon the same plan as that of the 

 mallard. 



In England, again, Mr. Yarrell states that it is a 

 winter visitor, making its appearance by the end of 

 September, the numbers increasing during winter by 

 additional arrivals from the north of Europe ; at the 

 same time, several instances of its breeding are given. 

 The same ornithologist states that it stands confine- 

 ment well, those in the gardens of the Zoological 

 Society having bred regularly for the last five 

 seasons. 



Out of Britain it is pretty generally found on the 

 continent extending north to Norway and Sweden, 

 in some parts of which it is partially migratory ; it 

 extends to Northern Asia, and we have it also 

 among the birds of the Indian peninsula. It visits 

 Northern Africa in winter. * 

 * Yarrell. 



