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. 
ve > 2°16 x 152 im. Laying begins in early May. One 
rood, 
165. Teal [Nettion crecca crecca (Linneeus)]. Resident in 
most parts. Prefers fresh water. 
Bird. Length 14} 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 (Linneeus)|]. 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 183 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 gre 
and white. The drake has the head chestnut sprinkled wit 
green, crown buff. The back and flanks finely pencilled with 
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