TEAL. 99 



weight of their fellows. The multiplication of shooters on shore 

 and afloat has sensibly tended to lessen the numbers of the Wild 

 Duck ; while drainage on a large scale in many a district the 

 country through, has materially lessened the number o their 

 haunts. Still a very considerable number remain to breed, and 

 a Wild Duck's nest in many parts of the kingdom is no rarity, 

 The nest is made of grass, lined and interwoven with down. It 

 is customarily placed on dry ground on the margin of water, 

 among reeds and bulrushes, or the like ; but may often be found 

 at some distance from water, and in places so unlikely for the 

 purpose as on the open moor, or in a tree top, or in the lofty 

 deserted nest of a crow. The eggs are from nine to twelve in 

 number, sometimes however exceeding the latter limit, of a 

 greenish-white colour, and about 2J inches long by 1J broad. It 

 is long before the young Wild Ducks fly well enough to leave 

 their native reed beds, or similar shelter, and, in the state pre- 

 ceding that of actual power to fly away, they are called Elappers; 

 and many a Mapper hunt have I taken part in in my younger 

 days. 



248. GARGANEY (Anas querquedula). 



Summer Duck, Summer Teal, Pied Wiggon. This is a some- 

 what rare bird, and is seen sometimes in late autumn, but more 

 usually in the spring. It has been known to breed in this 

 country, though by no means commonly or frequently. It is 

 said to make a nest among reeds of dry grass, rushes and down, 

 and the number of eggs deposited to run from eight or nine to 

 twelve, or even more. They are of a distinct but pale bull 

 colour, If inch long by 1J broad. 



249. TEAL (Anas creccci). 



A very pretty little Duck, and the least of all our winter 

 visitors of that species. It is of common occurrence, but not 

 met with in any great numbers. It breeds abundantly in Nor- 

 way and Sweden, and especially in Lapland, whither the great 

 bulk of our winter friends retire on the approach of the northern 

 sammer still, pairs often remain throughout the summer in 

 various parts of our country to nest and rear their young. 

 When I was a boy I heard of nests, almost annually, on some of 

 tlie marshes 1 knew most familiarly. The Teal builds a nest of 

 abundance of different vegetable substances, varying according 

 to the locality and its productions, and lines it with down and 

 feathers, the concealment afforded by the neighbouring herbage 

 being carefully adopted. Eight to ten or twelve eggs are laid, of 

 a buffy-white, ]f inch long by rather over 1-J broad. 



M 2 



