TWO TEAL 227 



me he once saw a flock of hundreds come out of the sea 

 like starlings. He shot across the flock with his old muzzle- 

 loader, and killed ten birds. Though loving the stuff near 

 the coverts, occasionally they venture in winter to the open 

 water, spreading as they alight ; but they are always rest- 

 less in the open, rising and alighting again three or four 

 times in as many minutes ; quacking like a duck, only 

 quicker, if it be daybreak ; later in the day, they generally 

 whistle if disturbed. The knowing gunner will flush them 

 in the open and wait quietly till they alight again ; for they 

 generally alight closer together after being flushed, and so 

 afford a better shot. After that dread report the cripples 

 take a bee-line for the shore, working out their lives with 

 beating wings through the icy water, their bodies covered 

 and only half their heads showing above the lagoon ; indeed, 

 the passage of the wounded birds through the water is more 

 fish-like than fowl-like their wings act as fins ; and such is 

 the practice of all water-fowl. In the spring many go away, 

 and the Broadsmen say the " home-bred uns come back ; " 

 for they aver the home-bred ducks and teal do not winter 

 here. 



Howbeit in May the residents nest on the ronds, marshes 

 by the sides of dikes, or in cars near the water, in similar 

 localities to those chosen by the mallard. The nest, too, re- 

 sembles the wild duck's, but is smaller, being made of down 

 and moss and grass. When leaving their nests they hide 

 their eggs, as does the mallard, for warmth, and to hide them 

 from the quick eyes of rook, harrier, or buzzard, no doubt ; 

 for nine eggs form a valuable possession, and nine teals' nests 

 out of ten will have nine eggs in them, though eight and 

 ten are occasionally found. When incubating, they sit 

 very close, and will allow you to tread upon them at times. 

 They are tamer, too, at this season, allowing you to ap- 

 proach them if feeding in the dikes squatting rather than 

 flying up, as is their custom in winter. 



In some parts of the district these nests are rare, but 



