﻿TEAL. 99 



The localities principally frequented by the Teal are lakes, 

 large ponds, or rivers, where flags and rushes abound ; swampy 

 meadows, small streams, ditches in low grassy meadows, 

 and pools of water occasioned by rain or inundations, pro- 

 vided the ground is well covered with verdure ; these all 

 afford the Teal a resting-place, feeding-grounds or shelter. 

 Whether the country is entirely open, or partly covered with 

 trees is immaterial to the present species, as it is found 

 equally in both. 



The Teal is not very shy compared with others of its 

 family, and consequently frequently obtained by sportsmen 

 who search for ducks, either early in the morning, or in the 

 evening ; this bird is also frequently met with in ditches 

 that are full of long grasses and decayed rushes, but without 

 a spaniel-dog it cannot easily be found, in consequence of 

 the great care it takes, beyond most other birds, in wind- 

 ing among the grasses, without running against them ; thus it 

 avoids discovering its course to its pursuer by their vibration : 

 this feat it performs with its head and neck carried horizon- 

 tally, and yet it proceeds with great velocity. Not long 

 ago, while we were waiting for ducks in the evening, a 

 flock of about thirty Teal came sweeping close over our heads, 

 and after skimming several times round us, they settled on 

 the surface of a pool, and the gambols they performed 

 while there, were exceedingly amusing, but not a note was 

 uttered until they took to flight again. On taking wing from 

 the water, they all rose instantaneously without giving pre- 

 vious notice as other ducks do., by drawing together and 

 making long necks on the approach of danger. When Teals 

 are put up at night they only skim round, and soon settle 

 again, frequently in the same place ; but when put up early 

 in the morning, they rise immediately to a great height, and 

 fly off. 



