302 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(294) THE COMMON TEAL. 



(QUEEQUEDULA CRECCA— {Linn,) ) 



Hindi — Murghabi. Bengali — BigH, 

 .The ground colour of the plumage is subject to much variation; 



some specimens, especially the females, have no spots at all. 



Eab. — Europe, Asia, North Africa, China, &c. In India it is very 



common everywhere during the cold weather. 



(295) THE GARGANEY, OR THE BLUE- WINGED TEAL. 

 (QUEEQUEDULA CIEOIA— (Linn.) ) 



Hindi — P atari. Bengali — Giria. 



The colour of the sides of the head has been found to vary from 

 pinkish white to greyish brown. 



Sab. — Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is less abundant in India 

 than the common teal. 



No record has been kept of their length of life in captivity* 



(296) THE PIN-TAILED DUCK. 



(DAFILA ACUTA— {Linn.) ) 

 Hindi — Sink-par. Bengali — Lig-hans. Sholoncho in East Bengal. 

 Length of the tail varies considerably among the males ; their 

 plumage also becomes much changed during the rains, so that a male 

 can hardly be distinguished from a female. 



Hob. — Europe, Asia, and Africa. In India it is found in every 

 part of the country duriug the cold weather. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Specimens have been living since 1886. This is long enough time 

 for a pin-tail's life in captivity here, as it is one of those ducks that leave 

 the country early and migrate very far to the north during the 

 summer. 



(297) THE WIDGEON. 



(MEEECA PENELOPE— {Linn.) ) 



"The conspicuous, broad, more or less speckly black band, down 

 the middle of the throat, sometimes extending the whole front of the 

 neck," which is said to be generally present in the males, has 

 often been observed to be wanting in those exhibited in this garden ; the 

 creamy buff patch on the forehead appears to be a constant character 

 in mature birds. 



Hab. — Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Atlantic coasts of North 

 America. During the winter it is found throughout the greater part 

 of India, but nowhere very abundant. 



