THE COMMON TEAL. 207 
Empire, though a few are often seen during the latter half of 
September, and exceptional cases have been reported of their 
appearance some weeks earlier even than this, I think we may 
say that the first heavy flights arrive during the first week of 
October. Further south and in Sindh they seem to be a little 
later, but even at Deesa Captain Butler shot them as early as 
the 27th of September. 
Usually they leave most parts of India by the end of 
April, but they are occasionally seen alike in the south and 
north well into May ; and Mr. Albert Theobald, in a most inter- 
esting note which I subjoin,* tells us that they were plentiful near 
Palamcottah in the Tinnevelli District, (at the extreme south of 
the Peninsula) on the 15th of May. 
Teal occur in flocks of all sizes ; and, though perhaps bunches 
of from ten to thirty are most commonly seen, little parties of 
two to five are frequently met with on small ponds, and huge 
flocks, containing many hundreds of birds, occasionally appear. 
I have never seen gigantic crowds of this species similar 
to those one sometimes encounters of the Garganey; but 
still I have seen, I think, at least a thousand birds on several 
occasions ina single, though rather straggling, flight. I have 
never, however, seen much above one hundred gathered together 
on the water in ove place, and commonly I have observed that, 
however large the flock that comes in, it alights all about the 
banks of the lake or river in comparatively small detach- 
ments. 
You may. meet with them anywhere; a pair or two may 
be seen, where the villagers do not molest them, on any village 
* Mr. Albert Theobald says :— I have shot the Common Teal all over Southern 
India, except in Malabar, where I have not seen them. 
‘¢They come in at the beginning of the north-east monsoon about November, 
and leave again about March and April, when most of the large tanks are dry. I 
have shot themin Tinnevelli as late as the 15th May 1872. I am inclined to 
suspect that they may remain throughout the year in well-watered districts. They 
are common in almost every weedy tank. ; 
‘Tanks containing abundance of weeds are their favourite haunts. They feed 
mainly on theterder shoots of weeds and grasses. The following extract is from some 
notes made by me in Palamcottah, Tinnevelli district, on the 15th May 1872 *** 
‘ These Teal are found in great abundance in all the large tanks south of Palamcottah ; 
—in one especially they were so tame, that I mistook them for domesticated ones. They 
were not more than five or six yards from a number of villagers who were having 
their morning bath, making, as usual, a great noise by dashing their wet clothes on the 
stones to cleanse them. Even when fired at, they appeared quite unconcerned. 
‘‘ They were quite playful, chasing each other, sometimes on the water, and some- 
times in the air. and then suddenly tumbling into the water. They would frequently 
turn on their backs, and move about with their wings spread open. At first I 
fancied they were wounded, but found it was all done in play. The only reason I can 
give to account for these birds being so tame in this district is, that hardly a native 
possesses a gun. All were disarmed by Government during the Polligar wars, about 
70 or 80 years back, and the villagers are still under the impression that it is illegal 
to have fire-arms, The few Europeans about here are almost all missionaries, and 
do not goin for any sort of sport. Elsewhere the natives snare, net and shoot 
numbers, and all large markets in Southern India are well supplied with them during 
the season,” 
im nn an tie) PRA 
