THE TEAL 191 



In its habits from the common wild Duck. It is occasionally taken 

 in decoys in Norfolk, and has often been observed to associate with 

 Wigeons. Its note is described by Montagu as being ' extremely 

 soft and inward '. 



The Pintail Duck has a wide geographical range, as it either 

 breeds in or pays winter visits to the greater part of the northern 

 hemisphere. The male annually assumes in summer the plumage 

 of the female, resembling in this respect the Mallard, to be described 

 hereafter. The flesh is considered excellent, on which account it 

 is much sought after by wild-fowl shooters, both on the coast and 

 in the fens. 



THE TEAL 



querquedula crecca 



Head and neck bright chestnut ; on each side of the head a broad green band 

 edged with buff, inclosing the eye and extending to the nape ; lower 

 part of the neck, back, and flanks, marked with numerous black and 

 white zigzag lines ; breast reddish white, with roundish black spots ; 

 speculum black, green and purple, edged with white ; bill dusky ; irides 

 brown ; feet ash. Female — upper plumage dusky brown mottled with 

 reddish grey ; throat, cheeks and a band behind the eyes yellowish 

 white spotted with black ; speculum black and green. Length fourteen 

 inches and a half. Eggs yellowish white. 



The Teal is the smallest, and by no means the least beautiful, among 

 the British Ducks. It is decidedly an indigenous species, as it 

 breeds in many parts both of Great Britain and Ireland, especially 

 in the eastern counties, in Welsh bogs, and northern mosses. It is 

 domesticated, too, without difficulty, and is generally to be found 

 on artificial and other pieces of water where the breed of water fowl 

 is encouraged. Its favourite summer resorts in England are lakes 

 which are lined with rushes, boggy places on the moors, and sedgy 

 rivers. It is an active bird, rising from the water with great facility, 

 and having a rapid flight. The few Teal which remain all the year 

 vvith us pair early in spring. I have observed them in couples on 

 the Kennet, in Berkshire, before winter had well departed. They 

 appear to have a strong attachment to any place on which they 

 have once fixed to build their nest, and return to the same locality 

 year after year ; and the young brood remain in the neighbourhood 

 of their birthplace until pairing time in the following year. The 

 nest is usually placed among coarse herbage by the bank of a lake 

 or river, and is constructed of decayed vegetable matter, lined with 

 down and feathers, and contains from ten to fifteen eggs. The 

 number, however, of these birds to be found with us in summer is 

 as nothing compared with the immense flocks which visit our inland 

 lakes and swamps in winter. They are then much sought after for 

 the table, being considered more delicate eating than any others of 



