TEAL 233 



apparently pursuing a course which is to end only at some far 

 distant rendezvous, they will suddenly plunge downward and settle 

 on the water. 



Teal are said to be wonderfully good weather prophets. When, 

 by severe and prolonged frosts they have been compelled to seek their 

 living from the sea, they will, even when there is no sign of abatement 

 in the rigour of the weather perceptible to human senses, betake 

 themselves back again to their inland haunts, and then, standing on 

 the ice, await the dissolution which they seem to have divined will 

 overtake it within twenty-four hours of their vigil. They leave their 

 inland haunts at such times with evident reluctance ; hope with them 

 dominates experience. As an instance in point we may cite the 

 winter of 1891, which was one of exceptional severity, driving hordes 

 of wild-fowl to seek sustenance with us. Vast flocks sought shelter 

 in Ireland, and huge numbers found food long after other sources 

 had closed to them on the decoy lake at Kerryville, Queen's Co. 

 But at last this too became an ice-sheet, and for days its surface, 

 for about five or six acres, was as thick with teal as they could sit, it 

 being estimated that between six or seven thousand birds here awaited 

 the much-desired thaw. 



Our home-bred birds are not hard to please in their choice of 

 haunts, and they breed wherever a sufficient supply of food seems 

 assured to them. Quiet, shallow lakes, whose shores are overgrown 

 with rank herbage, are favoured areas ; but marshes near the coast, 

 as well as inland bogs, are readily adopted. Heather-covered wastes 

 with rushy pools have a great fascination for them. 



In the matter of their courtship teal display considerable vivacity. 

 But it is significant to note that while there may be many females in 

 the vicinity, only one perhaps will permit the advances of the opposite 

 sex ; and she commonly receives court from several drakes at once, 

 which seems to show that the whole phenomena of courtship are 

 dependent upon some subtle state of sexual " ripeness " so to speak, 

 wherein the condition of the female plays a more important part than 



