315


THE



Hvtcultural flfoaga3ine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



New Series— VOL. V. — N O. 11.— All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER, 1907.


NOTES ON TEAL.

By F. Finn, B.A., F.Z.S.


I fear I have not time to say much on these pretty ducks,

which are not very familiar in aviculture, with the exception of

our two well-known British species, the Teal and the Garganey.

Many are, I think, rather too small to be fairly left at large un-

pinioued, and are better allowed free use of their wings in a large

aviary, where they will fly round in the evening and look very

ornamental. A place like the Waders' Aviary at the Zoo. would

suit them well, — I am glad to see they have a pair there now —

but they will thrive at a pinch with a much smaller pond.


I here append a list of the species I have seen in captivity

with brief descriptions and some notes.



The Common Teal.

(Nettium crecca).

This is the smallest kind kept ; it is only about as big as a

common Pigeon. The duck is almost an exact miniature of the

common wild duck, except that the bill and feet are dark, not

orange at all, and the bar on the wing is bright metallic green.

The drake is pencilled grey, with a spotted breast, brown head

with a green streak on each side, and cream and black markings

down the back and on the lower tail coverts. In summer he

goes into a dress much like the duck's, but is less distinctly


marked.


The Japanese Teal.

(Nettiwn formosuni).

It is not necessary for me to describe this very handsome"



