509 



" These birds are very numerous during both the spring and autumn migrations, when they 

 may be met with wherever there is water. A good many remain during the cold season, and 

 abound especially in the marshes of the Maremma and the salt lakes of Sardinia and Sicily. I 

 do not know whether they ever breed in Italy." 



In Savoy Bailly states that it is found throughout the year. According to Von der Miihle 

 and Lindermayer it is a common bird in Greece, a few breeding in the northern portion. Lord 

 Lilford found it very abundant in winter -in the Ionian Islands, arriving about the end of 

 September, and disappearing in March. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley record it as numerous in 

 Turkey ; and Von Nordmann states that it is found all the year round on the Black Sea. 



Dr. Tristram procured it in Palestine during the winter ; and Mr. Wyatt at Wady Gharandel, 

 in the Sinaitic peninsula. Mr. S. Stafford Allen says it is very common at Alexandria; and 

 Capt. Shelley writes us that it is " the most abundant of the Duck tribe in Egypt and Nubia, 

 and probably remains to breed there, as I have met with it plentifully in the beginning of May." 

 Dr. von Heuglin states that it is common on the Nile and Red Sea, and also observed on the 

 Tana Lake, in Abyssinia, and the marshes of Kordofan. Mr. W. J. Blanford also occasionally 

 met with it on the highlands of Abyssinia. From Trebizond the Common Teal was sent by 

 Mr. Keith Abbott, and it doubtless occurs in the intervening countries between Persia and 

 Cashmere. On the lakes of this latter country Dr. Leith Adams found it pretty common all the 

 year ; and Dr. Jerdon considers it " the most abundant as well as the earliest visitor to India." He 

 has noticed it as early as September, and it is late before it leaves the country. Pallas has given 

 the range of the present species as all over Russia, Siberia, in every part as far as Kamtschatka, 

 breeding everywhere. 



According to von Schrenck, it is one of the commonest Ducks in the Amoor country ; but, 

 as stated by Radde, Anas glocitans is much the commonest species of the two on the central part 

 of the Amoor; but he observes that the Common Teal is very abundant at the headwaters of 

 that river and in South-west Siberia. The observations they record respecting its habits coincide 

 entirely with those we give elsewhere. 



Pere David says it passes Peking in large numbers in spring and autumn ; and Mr. Swinhoe 

 records it from China. He has likewise found it in Formosa. According to Temminck and 

 Schlegel, it is abundant in Japan ; and Mr. H. Whitely also obtained it from the birdcatchers 

 near Hakodadi. 



The Teal is more especially a freshwater Duck ; and although it is occasionally to be found 

 on the salt water, this may be regarded as exceptional. It is so common a bird that but few field- 

 naturalists will be unacquainted with its habits. During the daytime it frequents ponds, pools, 

 or sheets of water in the marshy country, where the rank growth of flags or rushes affords it a 

 shelter, and loves to sit either motionless on the bank or to float on the surface of the water. 

 Towards the close of the day, however, it becomes restless, and as soon as the first shades of 

 evening set in bestirs itself in search of food, being essentially a night-feeding bird. 



Its disposition is gentle, evincing such affection for its mate, that when the one is shot the 

 other bird will often return almost immediately to the same place and meet a similar fate. 

 Several instances of this were witnessed by Dresser when collecting in North Finland, where the 

 Teal is common. The parent birds are also very solicitous about the safety of their young, as 



