rae COMUON TEAL. 
——- Oo 
Querquedula crecca, Linné. 
SS SS 
Vernacular Names.—[Murghabi, or Chota Murghabi, Jmadza generally ; Kerra, 
Lohya Kerra, Putari, Worth- Western Provinces ; Naroib, Tulsia-bigri, Bezgal ; 
Baijilagairi, Vefal ; Kardo, Sizdh ; Killowai, Madras; Sorlaihaki (Canarese), 
Mysore ; Churaka, Jaruka, Cabud ; Alah bash kurak aurdak, Yarkand. J 
—_——_ — 0-- 
» EW species, I believe, are more universally distributed 
| throughout the Empire during the cold season, and 
none probably visits us in greater numbers than the 
Common Teal. Excepting the lLaccadives, the 
Andamans and Nicobars, Tenasserim, Southern, 
a Central and North-East of the Salween, and 
ae = possibly Malabar, I know of no corner in the 
Empire, from Ceylon in the south to Ley and the Nubra Valley 
in the north, and from Soonmeeani Bay and Gilgiton the west 
to Sadiya, Manipur, and Thatone on the east, in which 
the Teal is not more or less plentiful.* It is probable that 
some even remain to breed in the North-West Himalayas, as 
* IT may here reproduce a few of the notes kindly sent me by different friends 
about this species. é 
Mr. Vidal says :—‘‘ The Common Teal are found everywhere throughout the 
Ratnagiri, Sattara, and Poona districts in the cold weather, in suitable localities. 
They arrive in October earlier than any other species, and I think stay later, 
They are to be found on all the tidal rivers in Ratnagiri both near the coast 
and in their fresh-water sections inland, as well as in tanks and rice swamps 
throughout the district. In Sattara and Poona they are also found in moderate 
numbers on the large rivers and tanks.” 
Mr. J. Davidson writes :—‘‘ Both the Common and Blue-winged Teal are very 
plentiful in the Sholapur and Sattara districts (Deccan), in Mysore, and in the Panch 
Mahals. Both arrive early, the Common Teal, I think, the earliest. It leaves, 
however, in April, while I have shot the Garganey in the Deccan in the middle 
of May, and again seen it in October.” 
Writing from the Lucknow Division Mr. George Reid remarks :—“ Generally 
speaking, the Common Teal arrives in myriads in October, and leaves again by the 
end of March or beginning of April. 
‘<‘T have seen flocks of Teal flying about in August, but never succeeded in getting 
specimens, so that I am uncertain whether it is this species or the next that arrives 
so early. I think the latter, but probably both come in about the same time. 
‘*The Common Teal is fond of weedy shallow lakes and large or small swamps, 
with often but little more than a foot or two of water in them ; but as these feeding 
grounds soon dry up, necessity obliges them to resort to the larger jhils, round the 
edges of which, often on the mud, sportsmen may slaughter them as they please in 
the early morning. and continue their operations throughout the day if they care to 
pick up the\stragglers that ever and anon re-visit the shore.”’ 
ne me ae nec ea Ni I 
