93 



THE TEAL. 



Anas crecca, Linn. 



Is common around the coast and on inland waters, and is 

 to a considerable extent indigenous. 



Belfast Bay. — Small flocks, containing at most about forty 

 birds, have generally appeared here so early as the month of August, 

 from which period, until the end of November, they generally 

 remained, and afterwards were seldom seen, except when the in- 

 land lakes became frozen over ; under such circumstances they 

 have been abundant in the months of January and February : in 

 March they have been sometimes obtained. These birds have 

 very much diminished in numbers during the last twenty 

 years ; the wild-fowl shooters considering that there is not now 

 (winter of 1849-50'^) above one teal here for every fifty or sixty 

 previous to that time. From 400 to 500 birds were frequently 

 then seen in a flock, during frost, and occasionally many 

 more, when they appeared alighting, and covering over masses of 

 floating ice in numbers like the common grallatorial birds. 

 During snow-storms, especially, but at other times also, they 

 were frequently killed on the water, by being fired at from behind 

 the ditch-banks near the margin of the bay; and often in com- 

 pany with wigeon. Part of one winter, within the period named 

 — that of 1837-38 — they were plentiful; and about fifty were 

 obtained by the discharge of a swivel-gun. In another in- 

 stance, thirty-two were procured at a shot. The female birds, 

 when wounded, are said to quack like the duck, but in a much 

 weaker tone. 



The diminution of teal, alluded to in Belfast Bay, might be 

 attributable to the increased quantity of shipping and steam- 

 vessels, — a great extent of their feeding-ground being enclosed 

 within railway embankments, and constant persecution by the 

 wild-fowl shooters liaving swivel-guns, although their numbers 



* About a liiindved in a Hock were seen tliis winter dnriiig severe frost. 



