NETTION CRECCA. 1G9 



abdomen, are still left feathers of the old plumage, A\hich are a bright rufous-buif. 

 The new feathers of the flanks are like those of the adult male, and the breast is 

 beautifully spotted with distinct oval drops ; the upper breast and neck is a dull 

 rufous. 



From the above description it may be seen that it does not follow that because 

 one 3'ear a bird has rufous or rufescent plumage he will have the same again after 

 the next moult. In the bird just described the new plumage is a very pui-e 

 white, but the old patches are exceptionally bright rufous. From this we might 

 infer that the habitat and its M'ater have much to do with the coloration of the 

 lower parts, yet a female in ne^' plumage shot with this young male is very 

 rufous indeed. 



The Common Teal extends thronoh the Pala?arctic Region in the summer, 

 breeding as far south, according to Hume, as the 40tli degree north latitude, 

 and migratino- south durino; the cold weather into Northern Africa as far 

 as Abyssinia on the east and Wadan on the west, practically the whole of 

 Southern Asia, and the Atlantic coast of North America. It occurs^ though 

 rarely, in Greenland. 



In British India it is found everywhere with very few exceptions. 

 From the extreme north down to Cape Comorin it is very abuntlant, though 

 perhaps more so to the north than to the south, but even there it is spoken 

 of as appearing in flocks of hundreds. 



Hume gives the exceptions to its habitat as follows : — '" The Laccadives, 

 the Andamans, and Nicobars, Tenasserim, Southern, Central, and North- 

 east of the Salwein, and possibly Malabar." 



From these places must now be struck off the Andamans, Nicobars, and 

 Malabar, the bird having been found frequently in the latter place since 

 ' Game-Birds ' was written. 



In Legge's ' Birds of Ceylon ' it is said not to occur in the Philippines, 

 but lately I have heard that it has been met with there also. 



Hume seems to think that Querquedula circia arriAcs in India earlier, if 

 anything, than the present Teal, but further observations have shown them 

 to arrive at much the same time, though one year the Garganey may be 

 first and the next year the Common Teal. 



In 1898 I had quite numerous records of their arrival in Northern 

 India and Assam in August, the earliest being that of a small flock seen on 

 the 22nd of that month. Hume says : — " In the more Northern Plains 

 portions of the Empire, though a few are seen during the latter half of 

 September, and exceptional cases have been rejjorted of their appearance 

 some weeks earlier even tlian tliis, I think w(; may say that the 

 first heavy flights arrive during the first week of October."' Hume, I 



