CHAP. XVIII.] SHELDRAKE—TEAL, 143 
will take their food out of my hand without the least hesitation. 
They are pugnacious creatures, and the drakes are always the 
masters .of the poultry-yard, pursuing the other birds with a 
peculiar croaking quack. The sheldrakes breed in old rabbit- 
holes, laying their eggs several feet under ground. When I am 
on the sandhills in May, early in’ the morning, I frequently sce 
their tracks in and out of the holes. It is curious to watch the 
male bird standing and strutting in the sun on some hillock 
waiting for the female, who is employed in her domestic duties 
under ground. When she appears, the drake goes to her, and 
after a short flirtation they fly away together to the sea-shore. 
When the hen is sitting, she leaves the nest during the time of 
low water, appearing to have an instinctive knowledge of when 
that time arrives, as it is the part of the day in which she can 
most quickly procure her food. This done, she returns to her 
nest, and after wheeling several times over it to see that nothing 
is amiss, she alights and walks to her hole. ‘The sheldrake has 
a quick, smart step, quite unlike the waddling gait of most 
ducks. When hatched, the young take at once to the sea, and 
never seem to leave it or the sand-banks till their plumage is 
complete. I have occasionally found a large flock of young 
birds nearly full grown on the sands, but never could manage to 
ratch one, as they run with great rapidity and dash into the sea 
before I cau get up to them. 
The flight of the sheldrake is not so rapid or easy as that of 
other ducks, rather resembling the heavy flapping of a goose 
than the quick flight of a wild duck. I cannot understand why 
this beautiful bird is not oftener kept on ornamental pieces of 
water, as his fine plumage, his boldness, and familiarity render 
him peculiarly interesting and amusing. 
The teal can scarcely be called a winter bird with us, although 
occasionally a pair or two appear; but in the spring they come 
in numbers to breed and rear their tiny young in the swamps 
and lochs. Nothing can exceed the beauty and neatness of this 
miniature duck. They fly with great swiftness, rising suddenly 
into the air when disturbed, and dropping as quickly after a 
short flight, much in the same manner asa snipe. In the spring 
the drake has a peculiar whistle, at other times their note is a 
low quack. A pair of teal, if undisturbed, will return year 
