60 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



fifty yards. For this reason they may be fired 

 at when at a greater distance than is customary with 

 other and stronger fowl. They are not very expert 

 divers when wounded. Their habit then is to swim 

 near the surface, with but head and bill showing : 

 a very small mark to aim at in rough water. After 

 putting up Teal out of shot, or by firing, keep them 

 well in view ; when least expected they will wheel 

 and pitch, thus giving a second chance. 



Teal appear in the harbours and estuaries of 

 Ireland in great plenty about the end of October 

 or first week in November. In a short time they 

 disperse ; the majority make for inland waters, 

 which they fancy most, and where they freely breed. 



In June, 1878, I watched from behind a bank, 

 unseen myself, a Teal with her young brood of 

 fourteen little dots, mere specks on the water. 

 This was an unusual number, as I have not as a 

 rule found a clutch to exceed eight or nine. It is, 

 however, most difficult to count them, unless they 

 follow the parent in deep water. When the water 

 is shallow, or weeds and rushes abound, they are 

 up and down, here, there, and everywhere, in a few 

 seconds. Lough Erne, where at the time referred 

 to I was trout-fishing, should be, with its numerous 

 grassy islands, a capital refuge for fowl that remain 

 to nest, as there are said to be as many islets in this 

 lake as days in the year. 



The tameness of the wildest birds when guarding 

 their young is well exemplified in the following 

 occurrence, described to me when in Achill, and 

 personally witnessed by Mr. Salt (Lord Cavan's 

 agent), August ist, 1881 :---" Last week a farm-boy 



