264



On the Cinnamon Teal.



colonies, part of the individuals breeding far north of the Equator,

and the rest about an equal distance to the south. The northern

breeders migrate south after nesting, and the southern breeders

migrate north. Whether or not the members of these two groups

now represent sub-species, they are so much alike as to indicate a

a common origin and a former continuous breeding range. Whether

isolation was gradual or was effected rapidly it is impossible to say,

nor do we know the cause.


Mr. Hugh Wormald writes me as follows :—“ This is one of

the most beautiful of the whole duck tribe, though it seems to me

that the name Teal is a misnomer. This duck is, in my opinion, a

Shoveler; the bird’s habits, shape and appearance are much more

like a Shoveler than a Teal, and the courtship is identical with that

of our Shoveler. These birds are now becoming fairly common in

collections of ornamental waterfowl, though a year or two ago they

were practically unknown ; they are certainly among the most useful

for ornamental purposes, being extremely beautiful, quite hardy, and,

in my limited experience of them, very free breeders. Two pairs on

my pond this spring produced four nests. One pair on each occasion

nested at quite a distance from the water, and the other pair at the

water’s edge. A fact I have noticed time after time with all ducks

is that when the first nest is taken or destroyed, and the birds nest

a second time, the second nest is always, or nearly always, within

about ten yards of the spot where the first nest was situated. The

colour of the eggs of my Cinnamon Teal varied considerably ; one

bird produced rich cream-coloured eggs and the other laid very nearly

white eggs. Cinnamon Teal are said to hybridise freely with Blue¬

winged Teal (Q. discors), though I have never seen a bird of this

cross, but I am told that there are some at Falloden. Young

Cinnamon Teal are easily reared, and are sturdy little ducklings, and

may be fed in the usual way, and provided that there are no heavy

rains while they are quite small there should be practically no deaths.

I have found the glass top of a garden frame fitted into wooden legs

most excellent protection from heavy rain. The front legs must be

shorter than the back in order to allow the water to run off easily,

and they must be made high enough to allow plenty of air to get in

between the wooden sides of the “ run ” in front of the coop and the



