The European Teal 



miracle of patience discloses that twinned and ineffable miracle of birth. 

 A dozen offspring in a day, or so we say. Anyhow, the youngsters 

 start even, and I only wish we had time, or skill, to follow them through 

 that wonderland of adventurous youth. 



No. 349 



European Teal 



A. O. U. No. 138. Nettion crecca (Linnaeus). 



Description. — Adult male: Much like that of succeeding species, but lacking 

 white crescent on side of breast; bordering white along green patch of head more 

 decided; vermiculation of sides, etc., broader and coarser; the outer scapulars buffy, 

 bordered with black on the outer edge. Female indistinguishable from that of 

 N. carolinense. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest and Eggs: Indistinguishable 

 from those of N. carolinense. 



General Range. — Northern Europe and northern Asia; wintering south to 

 Arabia, Ceylon, and China. Casual in Greenland and along the Atlantic coast of 

 North America. 



Occurrence in California. — Recognition based solely on Cooper's statement 

 (Auk, vol. iii., p. 125, confirming Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1868, vol. iv.) : "Also 

 found not rarely in California." 



THE DUCKS are good neighbors and "wings across the sea" was 

 their motto long before we got chummy with John Bull. Our birds have 

 been returning the visits made by Mareca penelope and Nettion crecca; 

 so that the names of Mareca americana and Nettion carolinense and 

 Querquedula discors, distinguished Americans all, appear on both English 

 and Continental guest books. 



Concerning the visits of N. crecca, we have only the assertion of 

 Dr. Cooper 1 that it was "also found not rarely in California," and the 

 surmise of Belding 2 that it may have bred in the Stockton marshes. 

 Concerning the latter supposition we may say that no comparable 

 instance of a bird's breeding thousands of miles from its proper haunt 

 is on record. It is probably a case of mistaken identity, apropos of 

 which may be quoted the remark of the English authority, Howard 

 Saunders. 3 Under the caption of "The American Green-winged Teal," 

 he says: "The female so closely resembles that of our Teal [i. e. Nettion 

 crecca] that I am unable to give any specific characters." 



■Auk, Vol. III., Jan. 1886, p. 125. 



2 Pac. Coast Avifauna, No. 11, p. 3s. I9I5- 



3 Manual of British Birds, p. 433. 



f/66 



