HABITS OF THE TEAL. 59 



whole aspect is somewhat that of a dark-plumaged 

 and rather small farm-yard Duck. Though it 

 resembles one at a distance, a nearer inspection 

 will discover the beautiful marking on the breast 

 that is peculiar to the Gadwall. 



This dappled appearance is formed by small 

 white half-moon-shaped pencillings on each feather, 

 about an eighth of an inch from the tip. From the 

 general colour, the name '' Grey Duck " is not in- 

 appropriate, I never heard a Gadwall call. From 

 the stealthy, reserved habits and night-roaming 

 disposition of the bird, I should doubt its often 

 doing so. 



Sir W. Jardine notes that Gadwall dive for their 

 food, but the shape and habits of the bird render 

 this highly improbable ; I never saw or heard of 

 one doing so, except, as all the tribe will do, when 

 winged. 



THE TEAL (Querquedula crecca), the smallest and 

 prettiest of all wildfowl, and delicious eating, is at 

 most times easy of approach, especially when rest- 

 ing on a bank ; but the instant they stretch their 

 necks, prepare to fire ; they give less warning and 

 bounce up quicker than any other fowl. The out- 

 siders seldom rise and pitch again with the main 

 body when you are nearing them, as is often the 

 case with Wigeon. They will spring up in. a 

 moment and all together, and thus when numerous 

 afford a good flying shot. Teal are daintily formed, 

 and their bones are so small and light that a com- 

 paratively slight wound disables them. It is sur- 

 prising, when snipe-shooting, the distance a Teal 

 can be killed with number 8 shot, even up to 



