82 BRITISH BIRDS 



marked faintly with rufous-brown. Head tinged chestnut 

 with fine brown markings. May be distinguished from other 

 ducks by the speculum and slender neck. The young are 

 like the male in "eclipse," but have the speculum dull 

 brownish-grey. 



Nest. On the ground, in grass or other herbage. Material : 

 as preceding species. 



Eggs. Usually 7-10. Shades of buff or yellowish-green. 

 Av. size, 2*16 x 1*52 in. Laying begins in early May. One 

 brood. 



165. Teal [Nettion crecca crecca (Linnaeus)]. Resident in 

 most parts. Prefers fresh water. 



Bird. Length 14 J in. Both sexes may be recognised by 

 the relatively small size, and by the speculum or wing patch, 

 which is half glossy black, half glossy green, bounded on 

 either side by buff, or in front by rufous. Beak black. 

 The drake has the head and neck chestnut, with a band of 

 glossy bluish-green proceeding from the eye backwards, the 

 same bordered above and below with a buff line which is con- 

 tinued from the front of the eye to the bill. Mantle and flanks 

 finely pencilled grey and white, except the hinder scapulars, 

 which are elongated to form a band of black and white. Breast 

 white, spotted black. Belly white. Rump and both tail- 

 coverts dusky brown to black. The male, in " eclipse " (July- 

 October), tends to resemble the female, but may be distin- 

 guished by the larger speculum and the fine buff barrings on 

 the mantle. The general hue of the duck is golden-buff 

 streaked with dark brown. 



Nest. On moor, marsh, and meadow, usually near water. 

 On the ground in heather, rushes, grass, &c. Material : as 

 preceding species. 



Eggs. Usually 8-16. Creamy-white with a greenish tinge. 

 Small. Av. size, 1*77x1-29 in. Laying begins April-May. 

 One brood. 



166. Wigeon [Mareca penelope (Linnaeus)]. Common winter 

 visitor and bird of passage to our shores ; also inland waters. 

 Breeds in Scotland, and exceptionally in N. England and 

 Wales. 



Bird. Length 18 J in. Recognised by the comparatively 

 small lead-blue bill, tipped black, and by the speculum or 

 wing patch. This in the drake is glossy green banded on 

 either side with velvet -black, broad behind, narrow in front, 

 the latter dividing the green from the conspicuous white on 

 the wing-coverts. In the female the speculum is dusky grey 

 and white. The drake has the head chestnut sprinkled with 

 green, crown buff. The back and flanks finely pencilled with 



