96 ANATTD^. 



never to cause alarm, they soon learned that they were in a place 

 of safety, and eventually admitted of a close approach without 

 taking wing. As a gun was not permitted to be fired on the 

 grounds, they were always to be seen during the day for about six 

 weeks. But, unluckily, trusting themselves outside the place, 

 though only at a few yards' distance, they fell a sacrifice, which 

 I learned by my next neighbour boasting what a fine shot his 

 son had made that morning, killing two teal on the water with his 

 first barrel, and a third, as it rose, with liis second one ; — a lament- 

 able result, caused by my having taught the poor birds that they 

 might trust to man. I have known several instances of a similar 

 kind with respect to other birds. 



Teal remain congregated late in the season. On March the 

 31st, 1843, I saw immense numbers on and about the lake at 

 Lurgan House, county of Armagh. They rose in very large 

 flocks, and, during the forty minutes occupied in walking round 

 the lake, their cries were as incessant as the cawing at a rookery 

 in the breeding season. A lady of our party remarked, that they 

 are so abundant here in winter, and so many flocks are on wing at 

 the same time, that their numbers and constant crossing of each 

 other have often reminded her of the figure of a Scotch reel. In 

 the first week of April, 1849, small flocks were seen on Bally- 

 drain lake. 



That locality, where they are protected, is a favourite haunt of 

 teal during the day in autumn and winter. By night, which is 

 their feeding-time, they are all scattered far abroad. In my mind, 

 this splendid little duck — the smallest of European Anatida— is 

 associated with the beautiful in winter scenery, with the vari- 

 ously-hued wooded banks of the lake or river, lowly bordered 

 with pale yellow reeds, green rushes, grey willows, or all com- 

 bined. In the bare flooded bog or brickfield^ — for any little 

 plashy spot attracts it — I have thought nothing comparatively of 

 the teal as, when it rose on wing, and added to an already 



* Not only a few birds, but a flock of a dozen or more, have come under my notice in 

 the old brick-fields close to Belfast, on the western side. 



