104 ANATIME 



When alarmed it suddenly shoots upwards with marvellous 

 speed, as though it were projected by a strong spring into 

 the air, and then off it flies, twisting and turning with a 

 strength and velocity hardly inferior to that of the fleeting 

 Dove or the swooping Falcon. The gunner rejoices when 

 he gets among a wisp of Teal ; the rapid flight more than 

 tests his aim ; quickly he tries a snap-shot, down comes 

 his game, only one grain of shot in the wing, but the frail 

 little bone has been broken and the beautiful flight is ended. 

 Then the taxidermist, pent up in his work-room, finds his 

 subject all-absorbing, as he models the dainty form and 

 arranges the pretty plumes of this miniature Duck. 



The Teal loves quiet inland waters, and may be found 

 on pools and canals of small size. Though it is not by 

 any means a coast-loving bird, yet considerable numbers 

 may be seen in our bays and creeks in the autumn and 

 winter. Hard and continued frost drives it to the coast, 

 when as many as five hundred have been counted together 

 on the tideway. Thompson states that between August and 

 September he has noted as many as fifty in Belfast Bay. 



I have shot Teal on the tops of mountains, among dry 

 heath and gorse, and once, when boating, caught an adult 

 female bird which was hiding in the shelter of an over- 

 hanging embankment of a river. I let the boat drift towards 

 her, and was on the point of seizing her, when she dived 

 like a flash, and had I not immediately thrust my arm full 

 length under water, she would have escaped. The bird 

 was not moulting and flew away, strong on the wing, when 

 liberated. 



Food. Food is sought for mainly in the early morning 

 and in the twilight, when the bird visits the ditches, bog- 

 lands and stubble, in search of vegetables, seeds, grasses, 

 worms, slugs, and in warm countries, rice. I have observed 

 this little Duck at mid-day, picking at the reeds growing 

 by a river-bank. It is one of the most palatable of game 

 birds. 



Voice. The voice is harsh and loud for the size of the 

 bird. The note may be syllabled qude-qui-qui. 



Flight. The flight of the Teal is more rapid and 

 glancing than that of the larger Ducks, but when flushed 

 from cover it has a habit of alighting at no great distance 

 from where it has been disturbed. Sportsmen acquainted 

 with this habit can often make good bags by following up 

 the birds. Thus, I have seen a family party, consisting of 



