BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 373 



islands in the Sound of Harris. Mr John Macdonald, Newton, 

 informs me that he has frequently seen the bird in these localities. 

 I cannot, however, find any trace of its breeding there. It is also 

 met with on the lakes in Skye, and in many of the other islands 

 lying to the south. Dr Dewar informs me that it breeds in Rum. 

 Although not abundant in Mull and lona, it is commonly 

 distributed there. Mr Graham writes that one or two pairs 

 may often be found breeding in the neighbourhood of the moor- 

 land lochans, and that in winter they are found there in small 

 flights, as well as on the sea shore in hard weather, among the 

 mallards and wigeon, when it is usually very tame and easy of 

 approach. 



I have found a number of pairs breeding on Inch Mo in, Loch 

 Lomond; the nests are invariably placed on the higher tufts of 

 heath, growing on a comparatively firm and dry spot in the marsh, 

 and are formed of the leaves of water plants, and lined with a 

 profusion of down and feathers. The young, on being left by 

 the old bird when suddenly surprised, remain huddled in a 

 compact variegated ball, but if an attempt be made to touch them, 

 they break up in a moment, and rush headlong into the nearest 

 pool. There they dive, and, by some mysterious means, never 

 show their bodies on the surface, but appear to get to the side and 

 thrust up their little heads merely to breathe until the alarm is 

 past. I have seen this done by broods less than a week old. 



In the north and east of Scotland the breeding haunts of this 

 beautiful little duck are extensively distributed, reaching even to 

 the Shetland islands. In the winter season I have observed small 

 parties on the sea-shore at Dunbar frequenting the mouth of fresh- 

 water streamlets, where they often remain all night. I may 

 mention that some of the west country specimens have the under 

 parts of their plumage coloured brick red, and are otherwise a 

 shade darker in general markings. 



THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



QUERQ.UEDULA DISCORS. (STEPH.) 



A SPECIMEN of this North American Teal was shot by the late Mr 

 Shaw of Drumlanrig, on the Nith, in Dumfriesshire, in January, 

 1863. Sir William Jardine, in whose collection the bird is now 



