102 



resembles that of the female, but is distinguished by the 

 presence of the bronze-green alar speculum. 



Adult female nuptial. Head, neck, back, scapulars and 

 .wings, .mottled-brown ; breast and abdomen, greyish-white; 

 tail-featfe^rs/Jharred with buff and dark brown ; middle tail- 

 feathers .noi prolonged much further than the rest. 

 .**S '^dtyliwinfyr^tnale and female. Similar to the respective 

 nuptial plumages. 



Immature, male and female. Resembles the female 

 plumage, but the young male can be distinguished by the 

 presence of the alar speculum. 



BEAK. Slate-grey. 



FEET. Slate-grey. 



IBIDES. Dark brown. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH ... ... ... 28 in. (including 



the long central 

 tail-feathers) . 



WING 11 in. 



BEAK 2 



TARSO-METATARSUS T85 ,, 



EGG 2-1 x 1-5 in. 



Note. In several old drakes which I measured, I found 

 that the central tail-feathers averaged about 7 '5 to 8 in. 



TEAL. Nettion crecca (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, * Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, 

 pi. 16 ; Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 426 ; 

 Lilford, Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 37. 



Diminutive in size and of dainty appearance, the Teal 

 is familiar to most of us as a widely distributed and common 

 Duck in our Islands. Its numbers are increased in autumn 

 and winter by migrants which reach our shores, some 

 arriving early in September. No common British bird 

 has found more favour, or has attracted more attention 

 than this neat little game-bird. The scientific and patient 

 observer, who watches its habits without destructive intent, 

 is rilled with admiration at the activity displayed, as the 

 Teal glides gaily to and fro on a sheltered pond or stream. 



