284 ANAS GEORGICA 
about the behavior of the male after the young are hatched, nor have they said 
anything about the display. 
Status. During Murphy’s stay in South Georgia (1912-13) he found that this 
Teal had fared badly, due to the establishment of numerous whaling stations on the 
island. In the neighborhood of Cumberland Bay it has become so greatly reduced 
that he saw only six birds. Due, however, to the separation of the bays and fjords 
by impassable glaciers and ice-capped ranges, the extinction of the species is unlikely 
for some time to come. Murphy says that although the bird was numerous, he rarely 
saw more than two dozen in one day. This may perhaps be explained by the fact 
that he was there mostly in the nesting season. He does not think that this species 
can be nearly as abundant as is Eaton’s Pintail on Kerguelen Island. Szielasko 
(1907) saw exceptionally large numbers in an unknown bay north of Cumberland 
Bay. 
Both Lbnnberg and Murphy have noted the preponderance of males over fe- 
males. 
Enemies. It is very hard to understand how a Teal can maintain its existence in 
the presence of the Great Skua Gull (Catharacta) . When a parent bird and her brood 
are surprised, the mother feigns lameness and the young disappear as if by magic in 
the tussock-grass (Murphy, 1916). Once a misguided Skua pounced down on a 
female as she was fluttering lamely around him, her young being in the neighbor- 
hood, but the duck flew “with a bound” and easily outdistanced her enemy. On 
several occasions Murphy and other collectors have seen Skuas swoop down and 
carry off in their bills Teal that had been shot. 
Food Value. The marine diet renders their flesh strong and oily, but the 
young birds are excellent eating, especially if skinned first (von der Steinen, 1890). 
Hunt. These birds have been consistently hunted by whalers, and great numbers 
have apparently been taken. 
Behavior in Captivity. None has ever been brought back to civilized countries 
alive. 
