1082 ANAS CIBCIA. 



In Southern Europe it is a common species, breeding in Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Spain at Perpignan. 

 It likewise breeds in Sicily ; is found in Malta in spring and autumn, and occasionally in summer ; occurs 

 in Sardinia in spring ; appears in Savoy in March and April, a few remaining to nest ; and is a summer 

 visitant to Germany, France, and Belgium. It is plentiful at the same season in Denmark, and not uncommon 

 in South Sweden, extending north as a straggler, but not above lat. 60° about. It has been procured near 

 Christiania, according to Mr. Collett. It is sparingly distributed throughout England in the summer, breeding 

 still in some localities in Norfolk ; it is rare in the western parts of the country, and is very seldom seen in 

 Wales ; it is likewise rare in Scotland, and in Ireland only occurs as a straggler. Turning south, again, we 

 find that in Northern Africa it is distributed from w r est to east. Favier states that it appears irregularly near 

 Tangier in February and March on its migration to the north, returning in September. Mr. Salvin met with 

 it in the Atlas district ; and in Algeria it is common. In Egypt it is moderately abundant and resident, 

 according to Captain Shelley; but Von Heuglin says it is chiefly a winter visitant, extending south to 

 lat. 10° N., spreading along Abyssinian mountain-streams, and frequenting probably the entire coast of the 

 Red Sea. It has been noticed on the west coast of Africa, but not in the south of the continent. 



Habits. — This handsome bird has much the same mode of life as its ally, the equally if not better known 

 Common Teal — principally frequenting fresh water, but sometimes in winter resorting to shallow coasts, 

 where the tide recedes and leaves an oozy foreshore abounding in food. It is chiefly a nocturnal feeder, 

 subsisting on grain, seeds, roots, water-plants, worms, small frogs, larvre, &c, and feeds occasionally, it is said, 

 on small fishes; it resorts to shallow water in marshes, particularly where the bottom is muddy, and during 

 the day hides among reeds and rushes, or in grass at the margins of flooded marshes. Like other Ducks 

 they wander about a good deal at night, alighting on small ponds or pools to feed, and perhaps remaining in 

 (juiet spots of this sort, if there is sufficient cover, throughout the day. They fly vei - y swiftly, and are said, 

 when migrating with other Ducks, not to mingle with them, but to proceed only in company with their 

 own species. Great numbers are caught in India, and fed in " Tealeries " for the market, their flesh being 

 excellent. In the north of Ceylon Lay aid writes that they used to be shot by native hunters using their plough- 

 bufl'alocs trained for the purpose : guided by a couple of ropes, the shooter walking on the side away from 

 the wild-fowl, and pulling cither rope, as occasion requires, to keep himself on the offside, the buffaloes are 

 brought within shot of the birds, and the man then rests his gun on the animal's shoulder and fires. The Garganey 

 is not a shy bird when not molested frequently ; its ordinary note is a harsh kndk, from which its German 

 name Kncik-Ente is derived ; in the breeding-season the Drake is described as uttering a loud harsh call. 



Nidifi cation. — The "Summer Teal" breeds in April and May, both in Central Asia and in Europe. It 

 is said to have nested within Indian limits, as Col. Tickell speaks of having a just-fledged young one brought 

 to him near Moulmein. As it is a species which breeds in comparatively warm regions, there is no reason 

 why it should not occasionally do so in India. The nest is placed on the ground in marshes, meadows, 

 and boggy places near water, amongst sedges and rushes ; it is made of flags, rushes, reeds, &c, and is, as 

 usual, lined with down plucked from the bird's breast. The eggs of the Garganey somewhat resemble those 

 of the common species, but are larger and have a slightly greenish tinge. They may be described as obscure 

 or dull white, tinged very faintly with olivaceous, but which is not perceptible in some; others are faintly 

 tinged with brown. A fine series before me, consisting of two perfect clutches taken in Holland, are almost 

 perfect ovals, slightly stumpy at the obtuse end, smooth in texture, and moderately glossy. Some examples 

 of one clutch measure 1'82 by L27, L78 by L2G, 1*79 by 1 '26 inch; and three specimens of the other 

 clutch measure 1*8 by L37, L78 by l - 32, L77 by L5. In the latter some eggs are rather stumpy at the 

 small end. 



The " nest-down" is pale brown, with white centres and just perceptible white tips. 



