AXATID^. 229 



opinion there is uo prettier sport than that to be enjo3'ecl by the side of 

 such a stream as we have before our mind, when, as oue advances to each 

 favourite cover, there is the exciting uncertainty as to what may spring, 

 either a Duck and ^lallard, a little tiock of Teal, or a Wigeon or two, and 

 if the frost be severe, Snipe are sure to be numerous at the edges of the 

 water, and a chance Woodcock maj^ be flushed from some warm cover of 

 mingled rush and bramble. With a good retrieving water-spaniel for a 

 companion, what sportsman could wish for better sport? 



We have found pairs of Teal on the Dartmoor bogs in mid-April, and 

 think there may be an occasional nest on the least disturbed places. la 

 trout-fishing in Xorth Devon we have once or twice encountered Teal in 

 the summer-time, which looked as if the birds might have had a nest. 



In 1S4S a pair of Teal bred near Beesands on Start Bay. A young 

 drake was caught and reared up, which associated freely with domestic 

 Ducks. Teal breed occasionally at Slapton Ley, where, probably, some 

 which had been wounded on " Ley Days" pass the summei', not that we 

 suppose any injured birds ever nest (11. P. X., MS. Xotes). 



Although the Teal is generally to be met with in small flocks, and 

 occasionally as many as forty may be encountered together, we have some- 

 times flushed the birds singly from the reeds, or " spires," on the mud- 

 banks (locally termed ■' lick" or " leek" beds), near Topsham. 



A male bird with a pure white ring round the neck was seen at Ilfra- 

 combe by Mr. Gatcombe (Zool. 1875, p. 4717). 



In Dorsetshire, the Teal breeds commonly in suitable places, but neither 

 in Cornwall nor in Somerset has it been known to do so. Wo think if 

 we had more information this bird might be included among the birds 

 nesting in Somersetshire, as there are so many suitable places for it to do 

 so on the great turf-moors in the centre of the county, alas ! almost a 

 terra incoijada to the ornithologist. 



American Green-winged Teal. QmrqiieduU caro- 



linen^is (Guiel.). 



An accidental visitor of extremely rare occurrence. Mr. 11. P. Xicholls, 

 of Kingsljridgc, obtained a fuU-drossed male specimen in the flesh, Novem- 

 ber iJiJrd, lyyu, in the following manner: — A girl entered his shop with 

 a basket covered by a cloth, and took out the bird in question and offered 

 it for sale. As there was some disagreement as to the price the girl took 

 it away with her, and as she did not return as anticipated, Mr. NichoUs 

 went in search of her, and purcliased the valuable specimen on her own 

 terras. He had at once recognized the species, as lie had stuffed many 

 si)ecimens in Chicago, U.S.A., and his brotlier, Mr, ireiiry Xicholls, coming- 

 in, and seeing the bird on the counter, immediately pointed out the white 

 spot in front of tlie wings, and said he had never met witli one like it 

 before. It appears to have ])een sliot from a flock on an arm of the Kings- 

 bridge estuary by a local gunner. In Deccmher l.sss^ fhis specimen was 

 exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society Ijy Mr. Howard Saunders, 



