THE VELVET DUCK. . 235 



spring. The Teal breeds in the long rushy herbage about the edges 

 of lakes, or on the boggy parts of upland moors." Very few of 

 them are found, according to Mr. McGillivray, in the south of 

 Scotland during the summer months. In winter, one of his corres- 

 pondents informs him, it unites in large flocks, the drakes having 

 then a whistle like the plover ; but it has not been heard to use this 

 call during the breeding season. The boldness of the female in 

 defence of her young is very affecting. Mr. St. John describes an 

 instance which occurred in Ross-shire. He was riding along when 

 an old Teal, with eight newly-hatched young ones, crossed the road. 

 The youngsters could not climb the bank, and all squatted flat down 

 while he passed. He dismounted, and carried all the young ones 

 a little distance down the road to a ditch, the old bird fluttering 

 about all the time, and frequently coming within reach of his whip. 

 The part of the road where he found them passed through a thick 

 fir-wood covered with rank heather, and it was a great puzzle to him 

 how such little things, scarcely bigger than a mouse, could have 

 struggled through it. Next day he saw them all enjoying themselves 

 in a pond a little distance off, where a brood of Teal appeared every 

 year. 



Teal are less timid than the Wild Duck, and the sportsman, there- 

 fore, has not the same difficulty in getting within shot of them. 

 They breed in great numbers in some of the Highland lochs ; and 

 Mr. St. John says that in August he has seen perfect clouds of them 

 rise from some calm glassy lake at the report of a gun. 



The Scoters (Oide??iia, Flemming) have the bill broad, with 

 dilated margins, and coarse lamelliform teeth ; a swelling above the 

 nostrils, dividing them into two equal parts, both large and elevated. 



The Velvet Duck (Anas fused). 



- This is the largest of the Scoters, and- is distinguishable by the 

 white band upon its wing, much-depressed body, thick neck, and 

 :arge, oblong, and compressed head. They make their appearance 

 in our bays and estuaries towards the end of autumn, and depart 

 about the middle of April. In the evening they proceed out to 

 sea in flocks of fifteen or twenty when the weather is favourable, 

 returning to the shore in the morning. They fly low, but with 

 considerable speed, moving their wings quickly • and on arriving at 

 a suitable place, they relax a little and alight on their hinder end, 

 the body being kept oblique. On settling, they commence forthwith 

 to feed. 



