86 PINTAIL TEAL. 



Language. Eesembles "tuck-tuck." Usually a very silent 

 bird. 



HaMts. When taking to flight the wings clap loudly. Fond 

 of floating on the water, dabbling the bill in it and sifting same 

 for food. It also feeds by turning itself upside down like 

 the Mallard. 



Food. Small fish, aquatic insects, tadpoles, worms, crus- 

 tacea, and mollusca ; also water-plants, &c. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. Usually near water on the ground among rushes, 

 heather, or other herbage. 



Materials. Dry grass and sedges, lined with neutral greyish 

 down tipped with white. 



Eggs. Six to ten or more. Pale greenish buff. 



PINTAIL (Dafila acuta). 



Migrant, coming in autumn, and usually leaving in April. 

 Breeds occasionally in Scotland and Ireland. In a semi- 

 domestic state it frequently breeds. 



Haunts. Estuaries, seashores, and inland waters, preferring 

 shallow waters with muddy bottoms. 



Plumage. Head and neck bronze-brown ; nape black ; con- 

 spicuous white stripe down each side of neck. Back and flanks 

 mottled with grey ; greater wing-coverts buff; speculum green, 

 bordered with black and white. Tail black ; two central feathers 

 much elongated; under tail-coverts black. Breast and belly 

 white. Bill, legs, and feet slaty grey. Length 28 in. Female 

 mottled with brown above, and greyish white below: speculum 

 green. Young, like female. 



Language. Silent in the daytime ; by night it utters a low 

 quack, and in the love season a pleasing double whistle. 



Habits. It feeds with its head below water, and is usually 

 seen in flocks often in company with Wigeon. Flight rapid. 

 It walks gracefully, and with greater ease than most Ducks. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, water-weeds, Crustacea, 

 mollusca, &c. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. On the ground amongst herbage near water. 



Materials. Dead grass, lined with brown down tipped with 

 white. 



Eggs. Seven to ten. Pale buffish green. 



TEAL (Querquedula crecca). 



Migrant, coming in autumn and winter. Some remain to 

 nest in suitable localities, though sparingly, in the South. 

 Breeds abundantly in the Orkneys, Scotland, and Ireland. 



