CHAP, xvin.] SHELDRAKE TEAL. 143 



will take their food out of my hand without the least hesitation. 

 They are pugnacious creatures, and the drakes are always the 

 masters of the poultry-yard, pursuing the other birds with a 

 peculiar croaking quack. The sheldrakes breed in old rabbit- 

 holes, laying their eggs several feet under ground. When I am 

 on the sandhills in May, early in the morning, I frequently see 

 their tracks in and out of the holes. It is curious to watch the 

 male bird standing and strutting in the sun on some hillock 

 waiting for the female, who is employed in her domestic duties 

 under ground. When she appears, the drake goes to her, and 

 after a short flirtation they fly away together to the sea-shore. 

 When the hen is sitting, she leaves the nest during the time of 

 low water, appearing to have an instinctive knowledge of when 

 that time arrives, as it is the part of the day in which she can 

 most quickly procure her food. This done, she returns to her 

 nest, and after wheeling several times over it to see that nothing 

 is amiss, she alights and walks to her hole. The sheldrake has 

 a quick, smart step, quite unlike the waddling gait of most 

 ducks. When hatched, the young take at once to the sea, and 

 never seem to leave it or the sand-banks till their plumage is 

 complete. I have occasionally found a large flock of young 

 birds nearly full grown on the sands, but never could manage to 

 catch one, as they run with great rapidity and dash into the sea 

 before I can get up to them. 



The flight of the sheldrake is not so rapid or easy as that of 

 other ducks, rather resembling the heavy flapping of a goose 

 than the quick flight of a wild duck. I cannot understand why 

 this beautiful bird is not oftener kept on ornamental pieces of 

 water, as his fine plumage, his boldness, and familiarity render 

 him peculiarly interesting and amusing. 



The teal can scarcely be called a winter bird with us, although 

 occasionally a pair or two appear ; but in the spring they come 

 in numbers to breed and rear their tiny young in the swamps 

 and lochs. Nothing can exceed the beauty and neatness of this 

 miniature duck. They fly with great swiftness, rising suddenly 

 into the air when disturbed, and dropping as quickly after a 

 short flight, much in the same manner as a snipe. In the spring 

 the drake has a peculiar whistle, at other times their note is a 

 low quack. A pair of teal, if undisturbed, will return year 



