128 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



mystery how the tiny young are ever got down to the water. On one occasion 

 he says, ("Nat. Hist, and Sport in Moray") "as we were driving the other day, 

 a Teal came fluttering out of the dry ditch by the road-side, and for above a 

 hundred yards continued flying and running almost under the horse's feet. I 

 found she had a number of young ones unable to get over the wall, so we helped 

 them into the adjoining wood; they were a long distance from water, and had 

 very rough ground to pass over to reach it. I remember exactly a similar circum- 

 stance happened to me in Ross-shire, when also I saved the lives of a young 

 brood of Teal by lending them a helping hand. These instances prove that, 

 notwithstanding the instinct of birds, which generally enable them to keep their 

 young out of harm's way, they occasionally get them into a situation not only of 

 difficulty, but where any dog or mischievous boy coming along might destroy the 

 whole brood." 



In Ireland Sir R. Payne-Gallwey has seen on their first arrival, about the 

 end of October or first week in November, from two to five hundred together, 

 they are found throughout the winter in more or less plenty on the coast, but 

 unless the great lakes are frozen they do not visit the coast in any number, but 

 with a continuation of frost go south to a more open and genial clime. 



Some very beautiful crosses have been recorded between the Mallard and 

 Wigeon ; the male progeny of these has been described and figured as the 

 " Bimaculated Duck." 



Family— ANA TID^. 



American Green-Winged Teal. 



Querquediila carolifiensis, . Gjiel. 



American Blue-Winged Teal 



Querquedula discors, LiNN. 



THE Green-winged Teal is recorded as having occurred three times in England, 

 once, November 23rd, 1879, i" South Devon; again, an adult male, at 

 Scarborough, in November, i8gi ; and another, many years ago, in Hants, (Zool., 

 80, pp. 70-71.) 



