210 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



choice but necessity. As their larger relatives, the 

 Mallards, are similar in their general habits, the 

 springs of Teal mix with them, and go with them to 

 the decoy-ponds, leaving the greater part of their 

 company behind. Decoys have been constructed 

 specially for Teal, but duck-decoys answer the pur- 

 pose very well at times, and it was from the decoys 

 that the large numbers of Teal reached the market, 

 where, in dealers' terms, they were called half duck. 

 The reason of this was that a couple of Teal were 

 considered equal to one Mallard, and were paid for 

 as such as half fowl so that two Teal drakes and 

 two ducks, that is, four half fowl, were paid for at 

 the same price as a Mallard and duck, whole fowl. 

 The question as to whole or half fowl constitutes a 

 very important matter in all wild-fowl dealings, and 

 if the matter is not distinctly understood, things do 

 not always run quite smoothly. 



It would not, in the full sense of the word, be 

 correct to say that Teal nest in some of the southern 

 counties. But a few couples do nest in certain 

 favoured spots well known to me, which, however, I 

 shall not even indicate. One spot that I frequently 

 visit holds Wild Duck, Teal, Woodcock, and Snipe, 

 and, what is of more interest, they nest there in the 

 nesting season. 



It is really a wonder how the Teal duck manages 

 to get her down-covered young ones dark olive on 

 the back, and ochre colour below from her nesting- 

 place. From the alder moor above to the lake 

 below is a considerable toddle for the squeaking, 



