THE COMMON TEAL 



on the banks. This is sought for by day and by night in 

 localities where it is not molested, but in some places 

 where persecution teaches it wanness it feeds during 

 darkness alone. It will then be found to pass the day on 

 large, open sheets of water well out from shore, retiring at 

 dusk to the smaller pools and marshes to feed, passing 

 certain routes with much regularity. It searches for 

 food in much the same manner as the Mallard, and its 

 diet is almost as varied. Its alarm-note is a low quack, 

 and the call-note a harsh cr-r-rik. It breeds in May, on 

 the margin of some marshy pond, and probably pairs for 

 life. The nest is made on the ground, sheltered by 

 brambles, or concealed amongst heath, sedges, and coarse 

 grass, and is made of dry grass and scraps of withered 

 herbage, warmly lined with down from the duck's body. 

 The eggs are eight or ten, creamy white or buffish white, 

 sometimes with a greenish tinge. 



The Teal is so well known that a long description may 

 be dispensed with. I may, however, give the diagnostic 

 characters which will enable the student to identify this 

 species in any plumage. The bill is shorter than the head, 

 and does not taper towards the tip ; there is no fringe of 

 soft membrane near the tip of the apical portion ; the 

 central tail-feathers are acuminate, and extend slightly 

 beyond the outer ones ; whilst the scapulars and tertials 

 are longer than in a Widgeon. The head is partly 

 metallic green, the top of the head chestnut, like the 

 cheeks ; the lower scapulars are white, edged with white 

 on the outer web (male) ; the alar speculum is black, and 

 the wing under 7 inches in length (female). Length 

 inches. 



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