522 



2 



body buffy white, mottled with dark brown and rufous on the upper breast and flanks. Total length 

 15 - inches, culmen 1/45, wing 7 - 8, tail 3 # 5, tarsus 09. 



The Baikal Teal is very distinct from the Common Teal ; and the male is to be distinguished at 

 a glance by its black head and burl-coloured face, in addition to the many other distinctive 

 characters, which are shown in the Plates of the two species. The females are much harder 

 to determine ; but the hen Baikal Teal is always larger in size. 



This elegant bird may be hereafter found to be an occasional straggler into Europe, but at 

 present it has only been obtained twice in France, as recorded by Messrs. Degland and Gerbe : — 



"About the end of November 1836 five specimens were killed at intervals of a few days on 

 the banks of the Saone, near Epervans, by a man called Sauvin, who shot for a livelihood ; four 

 of these were sold for food, as Common Teal, to an innkeeper at Chalons ; the fifth was happily 

 saved from destruction by an intelligent collector, and was stuffed by M. Martin, a chemist, at 

 dial oh s. This precious specimen is now in the interesting collection of Dr. de Montessus. 

 The appearance of this Duck in the basin of the Saone was in consequence of tempestuous winds 

 and heavy rains, which had caused great floods. According to M. Canivet, this species has 

 occurred in the low country of La Manche, near the sea-shore. Two specimens, a male and a 

 female, procured from a sportsman near Carentan, were by him given to the Count de Steade, in 

 whose rich collection they still are." 



We are indebted to the Russian travellers for all the information we possess respecting its 

 habits. It appears to visit North-eastern Asia in the summer and breed there, proceeding south- 

 wards on the approach of winter. At this time of year Mr. Swinhoe and Pere David procured it 

 in China (the latter also finding it in spring), where it appears with other species of Ducks, and 

 can often be purchased in the markets. Mr. Swinhoe records its occurrence in Formosa ; and in 

 Japan it also occurs, the Dutch travellers having brought back a complete series of specimens ; 

 but Mr. Whitely does not seem to have succeeded in procuring it. Dr. Jerdon includes it among 

 the ' Birds of India,' stating that it is very rare, the only specimens known to have occurred in 

 that country being some purchased by Mr. Blyth in the Calcutta bazar. 



The following particulars respecting the habits of the present species are extracted from the 

 works of the Russian naturalists. 



Dr. Middendorff writes : — 



" Although the commonest Duck on the Boganida (70° N. lat.), it did not extend its range as 

 high as the Taimyr river. It was not observed before the 12th June on the Boganida. On the 

 3rd July seven fresh eggs were found in a nest on the river bank, under a willow bush. On the 

 24th July the young in down began to have feathers appearing on the head, shoulders, and 

 wings, but were unable to fly on the 4th August. On the 28th July a male was shot, which had 

 lost his full plumage. The last birds were observed up to the 23rd August on the Boganida. 

 This bird was equally abundant in the Stanowoj mountains (Aim river), and at Udskoj-Ostrog, 



where it arrived early in May The young in down are easily recognized by the spot at 



the root of the bill and the stripe by the eye, which agree exactly with those of the female, but 

 are yellowish instead of white; the feathers which are shooting out on the breast have broad 

 and rather bright reddish-brown edges. The eggs are small, bluish yellow in colour, the smallest 

 ■50 niillims. long by 35 millims. in the widest part. 



