228 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



at Strode, near Modbury. Si)iitli Devon, on April 17th. lS7o ('Field' for Ma v 5th, 

 18751. One occurred n't riyinonth, March 24t]i, 1881 (Zool. 1882, p. 63). There is a 

 specimen from the Teign in the Museum of the Torquay Katural Ilistorv Society. 



^Ye have often considered that there are places on the Somerset peat- 

 moors siiitaWe for this beautiful little Duck to nest in, but have never 

 been able to obtain evidence that any have done so, although we have seen 

 examples which had been shot from these very places we have in our mind. 

 The unfortunate birds, probably, settle on them with an intention of 

 nesting, when somebody catches sight of them some unlucky day, and 

 they are soon to be seen hanging up in the nearest game-dealer's shop, or 

 in the hands of the local bird-stuffer. Mr. Eodd never heard of a Gar- 

 ganey's nest in Cornwall, where the bird appears not uncommonly, and 

 there is no record of a Devonshire nest; but in the * Zoologist" for 187''^, 

 ]). 130, Mr. T. M. Pike states his belief "that a brood or two are usually 

 hatched off" in the neiglibourhood of Poole Harbour, but furnishes no 

 particulars of any ever having done so. Col. Montagu used to receive 

 specimens of the Garganey from the decoys in Somersetshire in the month 

 of April, by the name of Summer Teal, and gives the weight of a male as 

 about fourteen or fiffcen ounces, the weight of a good "Woodcock. 



The Garganey used to nest on some of the Norfolk Eroads, and, possibly, 

 may still do so in a few ])rotected places. It is quite a freshwater 

 Duck, and never visits the salt water, unless it is driven there for shelter. 

 It is a widely distributed species, aud does not appear to go very far 

 north. 



Common Teal. Querquedula crecca (Linn.). 



A winter visitor, tolerably numerous in some seasons in suitable locali- 

 ties, especially in the smith-western part of the county. Breeds occasionally. 

 The Teal sometimes arrives in August, sometimes early in September. It 

 has been seen on the Exe, September 9th, 1854; at Plymouth, September 

 IGth, 1873 (J. G., Zool. 1873, p. 378-1). Many were noticed at Thurle- 

 stone Lev, August 14th, 1878 (E. A. S. E.) ; others at Exmouth. Septem- 

 ber 1890. 



This diminutive Duck is one of the best known of our indigenous wild- 

 fowl, as there are many places where it still nests, and it is a regular 

 visitor in the autumn to almost every river, pond, lake, decoy, and estuary 

 to be met with in the kingdom. The shore-gunner is always pleased to 

 notice the arrival of the first little " bunches " of Teal, as they are gene- 

 rally tame and easily stalked, and at no times are Teal as wild and 

 unajiproachable as other wild-fowl. The flesh of the Teal is of high 

 excellence, and it is altogether a nice little bird. Yery pretty shooting is 

 afforded by it to the sportsman who has the privilege of following some 

 likely stream of a frosty morning, where the banks are occasionally fringed 

 by reeds, and dwarf willows overhang the water, giving to the birds the 

 shelter they love. And when they are flushed they I'arely fly far, even if 

 shot at, and may be marked down again and easily " banked." In our 



