EUROPEAN TEAL 
223 
after a shot had been fired among them (Hume and Marshall, 1879). Another trait 
that is rather characteristic is their habit of returning to the place where some of 
their number have been killed or of coming back and circling overhead when they 
have been driven up from a favorite haunt. 
Daily Movements. Teal are probably even less active during the day than 
Mallard. Even where not disturbed they are more or less nocturnal, or at least 
crepuscular in their habits. Not only are they inactive by day but they are also 
extremely silent, and as Millais (1902) notes, they will “sit for hours motionless, 
apparently lost in a brown study* or with the head buried in the scapulars.” All 
ducks, or at least all the common northern surface-feeders become more nocturnal 
as winter approaches. 
Gait, Swimming, Diving. On land it prefers to run about on mud-flats or 
places covered with an inch or two of water or hunt food close along a bank or ditch. 
It holds its body horizontally, as does the Mallard, but it cannot run or walk with 
anything approaching the speed of the latter. On the water it has the appearance of 
floating lightly and somewhat higher than the larger ducks, but its progress on the 
water is slow compared to the larger species. Even when wounded it is loath to dive, 
and prefers to escape by hiding among reeds and other vegetation. Only the young 
are expert in diving in the presence of danger. 
On the water adult males can be distinguished from the American Green-wing by 
the absence of the white bar on the side of the breast and the presence of the white 
outer scapulars which are very prominent at long ranges. These ornamental scapu- 
lars are not assumed until full maturity. Females of the two species are indistin- 
guishable in the field and cannot certainly be told apart in the hand (see under 
American Green-wing). 
Flight. The flight of Teal is very characteristic and interesting to watch. They 
are far more erratic than larger ducks and when traveling short distances seldom hold 
long to one course. The flock continually darts this way and that, first turning the 
upper side, then flashing the light-colored under parts so that they appear like a 
company of plovers. A flock of Teal at a distance may easily be taken for a flight 
of wading-birds. Then, too, they almost always fly much lower than Mallard, and 
like to hug the surface of the water. 
They rise abruptly from either land or water and once in the air the wings cause a 
slight swishing, but not a loud whistling noise. Almost all sportsmen are deceived by 
the apparent speed of their flight, and older observers estimated this at from 90 to as 
high as 140 miles per hour. Even the lowest of these estimates is probably far higher 
than that ever attained by any duck. Flocks of Teal often include individuals of 
