216 TEAL. 



The Teal is greatly esteemed as an article of food, and always finds a ready sale 

 in the markets. 



When not much disturbed, the Teal is perhaps the least shy and wild of any of 

 our Ducks. The young birds dive with great ease and quickness, but we have never 

 seen the old birds do so. At morning and evening twilight the Teal may be found 

 feeding in stubble fields, ditches, and marshy places. When a flock of Teal is disturbed 

 they fly in graceful circles, like the Plovers. Mr. Thompson says, "Its sight is amazingly 

 acute; on very quietly advancing to the banks of this lake, at a great distance from a 

 large flock, they would, when first seen, be reposing on the water in silence; but the 

 next moment, having perceived me, would commence calling in a manner grating to 

 the ear, and nearly resembling the sound produced by the solid wooden wheel of an 

 old-fashioned Irish car wanting grease. They would then lightly spring into the air, 

 wheel through it with amazing rapidity within a few seconds of time, appearing 

 backed by the transparent medium of the water of the farther part of the lake, by the 

 'evergreen pine,' or mass of towering silver firs; by the soft, golden, floating clouds, 

 or sweeping before extensive ranges or broken groups of deciduous trees; their colour 

 appearing different every moment, as they were 'relieved' by these different objects; 

 the greatest contrast being when they seemed all dark in hue, with the upper surface 

 of their bodies turned towards me; or shone like silver when the white under plumage 

 was exposed. So rapid are their movements, that it requires an effort — almost a 

 straining — of the eye to follow them. Being intent on alighting, they will now from 

 on high repeatedly sweep down towards the water, into which some individuals from 

 the flock descend at every circuit, until the whole are gradually reposing on a more 

 distant part of the lake, where their call, occasionally unheard during their more 

 distant flight, is again distinctly given forth." 



When a Teal is flushed on a stream, it usually flies farther up or down, as the 

 case may be, and then suddenly drops into the water; and very frequently it will 

 immediately begin to swim towards you, so that unless you are very careful, you will 

 either pass it, supposing it to be where it pitched, or it will escape by flying from 

 a point where you do not expect to see it. 



The call-note is a kind of harsh whistle, as before stated; but they also will quack 

 like a Duck, but not so loud. This has been noticed occasionally when the birds are 

 wounded. 



The food consists chiefly of vegetable matters, such as grasses, the seeds of various 

 water-plants, and a small proportion of insects. Sand and gravel is also always found 

 in the stomach. 



The nest of the Teal is usually placed among reeds or coarse herbage near the 

 edges of lakes or marshes; but sometimes it will be found at a distance from water, 



