OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 365 



Habits. — Although a great many Teal are practically resident in the British 

 Islands, this Duck is by far the most common and widely dispersed in winter, 

 when its numbers are increased by migratory individuals from more northern and 

 colder latitudes. With us this Duck begins to arrive in September, and continues 

 to do so through the following month. In India, where it is one of the com- 

 monest Ducks during the cold season, they begin to appear in September in the 

 north, but the heaviest flights arrive during October, whilst further south they 

 are not observed until the north-east monsoon in November. They leave most 

 parts of India about the end of April, although a few are seen even in May. In 

 the valley of the Petchora, Teal arrived on the 18th of June with the general 

 smash-up of the ice on the river and the melting of the snow ; in the Yenisei 

 district its arrival was also coincident with the thaw. The Teal is much more 

 partial to reed-fringed pools and small lakes than to the mud-banks and estuaries 

 of the coast. In India, Hume remarks they may be met with anywhere, on 

 fresh water of course, either on the village pond, in the marshy corner of a broad, 

 on large lakes, or on sluggish rivers and dancing upland streams. The Teal is by 

 no means a shy bird, yet it is very fond of skulking amongst the tall aquatic 

 vegetation, remaining close until flushed by dogs or men. It is a gregarious bird, 

 especially just previous to and on migration. In India bunches of from ten to 

 thirty are most frequent, but much larger gatherings are on record, especially 

 during Flight. As a rule the smaller the pond or lake, the fewer in number the 

 birds will be. The flight of the Teal is rapid, and the bird has considerable com- 

 mand over itself in the air, often escaping the swoop of a Falcon with a sudden 

 dip or twist. This Duck has also a way of dropping suddenly into cover again 

 soon after being flushed. It swims well and lightly, but never dives unless wounded, 

 and even then makes but poor attempts to do so. The Teal is most frequently 

 seen on the water, but occasionally it walks about the banks with a waddling 

 gait, and may be often observed standing on one leg with its head drawn in, or 

 even buried beneath the scapulars. The Teal is both a day and night feeder 

 where left unmolested, but in districts where it is much disturbed it varies its 

 time, and obtains most of its sustenance at night. Under these circumstances, 

 especially if the flock be fairly large, the birds spend the day on some large sheet 

 of water, and retire at night to the marshes and small ponds to feed. They 

 usually change their quarters towards sunset, and as they follow certain routes 

 backwards and forwards, afford fairly good sport on flight. The Teal obtains 

 most of its food either whilst floating in the shallows, from time to time turning 

 upside down in true orthodox Duck fashion, or when paddling round the weedy 

 margin of the water. This food consists of grass and seeds, shoots, roots, and 

 leaves of aquatic plants ; grain, rice, insects and their larvae, small mollusks, and 

 worms. The usual alarm note of the Teal is a rather weak but shrill quack, but 

 the call-note, which may be heard incessantly as the pair of birds swim to and 

 fro, is a harsh Eail-like crrich. The flesh of the Teal is excellent for the table. 



