666 



nf 



nut-red ; the throat is black ; a broad green 

 band extends from the eyes to the nape ; 

 the lower part of the neck, back, scapulars, 

 and sides are alternately striped with zigzag 

 lines of white and black ; the breast is red- 

 dish, and spotted ; the belly a yellowish 

 white ; the speculum of the wings is half 

 white, half black, and edged with two white 

 bands : the legs are ash-coloured. The fe- 

 male is smaller than the male, and has a 



COMMON TEAL. (QUl!RQTIEDOt.A CRECOA.) 



reddish- white band, spotted with brown, 

 behind and beneath the eyes ; the throat is 

 white ; the plumage above is blackish-brown, 

 edged with a broad band of clear brown ; 

 and the under parts are whitish. This spe- 

 cies is a native of the north, occurring 

 equally in Europe and America : it is very 

 abundant in England during its migration ; 

 but it does not appear usually to breed here, 

 although its nest is sometimes met with, 

 and is said to be not uncommon in France. 

 The nest is large, and is composed of soft 

 dried grasses, lined with feathers, and gene- 

 rally concealed in a hole among the roots 

 of reeds and rushes near the water's edge. 

 The female lays about a dozen reddish-white 

 eggs, which are indistinctly sprinkled with 

 brown dots, and in size about those of a 

 pigeon. The Teal is widely and numerously 

 dispersed over the whole of Norway, Sweden, 

 and Lapland : it is abundant in Germany, 

 Holland, France, Spain, and Italy ; it is 

 also found in the winter in considerable 

 numbers in Ireland ; and sometimes it in- 

 habits the edges of the Scottish lakes. The 

 flesh is dry and difficult of digestion, but, 

 notwithstanding, is in great request. In the 

 reign of Henry VIII. it held a high place 

 among the luxuries of a royal banquet. 



The BLUK-WIXGED TEAL (Querquedula 

 discors\ says Wilson, in his ' American Or- 

 nithology,' is the first of its tribe that re- 

 turns to us in the autumn from its breeding 

 place in the north. They are usually seen 

 early in September, along the shores of the 

 Delaware, where they sit on the mud close 

 to the edge of the water, so crowded together 

 that the gunners often kill great numbers at 

 a single discharge. When a flock is dis- 

 covered thus sitting and sunning themselves, 

 the experienced gunner runs his batteau on 

 shore at some distance above or below them, 

 and, getting out, pushes her before him over 

 the slippery mud, concealing himself all the 

 wliile behind her ; by this method he can 

 sometimes approach within twenty yards of 

 the flock, among which he generally makes 

 great slaughter. They fly rapidly, and, 

 when they alight, drop down suddenly, like 

 the snipe or woodcock, among the reeds or 



on the mud. They feed chiefly on vegetable 

 food, and are eagerly fond of the seeds of the 

 reeds or wild oats. Their flesh is excellent, 

 and, after a residence for a short time among 

 the reeds, they become very fat. As the first 

 frosts come on, they proceed to the south, 

 being a delicate bird, very susceptible of cold. 

 They abound in the inundated rice fields in 

 the southern States, where vast numbers 

 are taken in traps placed on small dry emi- 

 nences that here and there rise above the 

 water. These places are strewed with rice, 

 and they are caught alive in hollow traps. 

 This species is a trifle smaller than the pre- 

 ceding : the bill is long, and of a dark dusky 

 slate colour ; the front and upper part of 

 the head are black ; from the eye to the 

 chin is a large crescent of white, the rest oi 

 the head and half the neck are of a dark 

 slate, richly glossed with green and violet ; 

 remainder of the neck and breast is black or 

 dusky, thickly marked with semicircles of 

 brownish white, elegantly intersecting each 

 other ; belly, pale brown, barred with dusky, 

 in narrow lines ; back, deep brownish-black, 

 each feather waved with large semi-ovals of 

 brownish- white ; lesser wing-coverts, a bright 

 light blue ; primaries, dusky brown ; spe- 

 culum, or beauty-spot, rich green ; tertials 

 edged with black or light blue, and streaked 

 down their middle with white : the tail 

 pointed : legs and feet yellow. 



TELEOSAURUS. The name given to a 

 group of extinct Reptiles allied to the Cro- 

 codiles, the fossil remains of which have 

 been found in this country. They had a 

 long muzzle, somewhat resembling that of 

 the Gavial, or Gangetic Crocodile. 



TELEPHORUS : TELEPHORIDJE. A 



genus and family of Coleopterous insects ; of 

 a long and narrow form, with perfect wings 

 and elytra ; head broad and not concealed 

 under the thorax ; mandibles acute and 

 curved ; and the antenna: simple, moderately 



SOT-BIER BEETJVE. (TEI.EPHORnS FDSOD8.) 



long, and inserted closely together. These 

 insects, which are known by the name of 

 Soldiers, Sailors, or Doctors, are found in the 

 Spring in considerable numbers upon flowers, 

 especially those of the Umbelliferce. So vora- 

 cious are they, that they not only feed upon 

 other insects, but the weaker of their own 

 species fall a prey to the stronger. They 

 walk awkwardly, and their flight is heavy. 



