218 
THE GARGANEY AND GADWALL. 
The Common Teal measures about fourteen inches and 
a half in length. It is a very prettily-marked species ; the 
head and upper part of the neck being chestnut brown, with 
a green patch behind the eye, so exactly margined with 
white, as to give it an artificial appearance ; one almost fancies 
it must be sewn or stuck on ; the fore neck and part of the 
breast are yellowish white, with very distinct red spots; 
the abdomen is marked with undulating lines, and under 
the tail is a black and two cream-coloured patches. Grey, 
yellowish white, and black, are the upper part and sides, 
with a green tinge about parts of the wings. This is the 
smallest of our native Ducks, and one of the best as an 
article of food. It has been found breeding in various parts 
of England, though not in considerable numbers. The nest 
is formed of a large mass of decayed vegetable matter, with 
a lining of down and feathers, upon which eight or ten 
cream-coloured eggs are laid. 
The Gai'ganey Teal is a larger bird than the last 
species, generally measuring about sixteen inches; it is 
also more beautifully marked, having a white band over the 
eyes and along the neck, the upper part of which is chest- 
nut-brown, finely barred with white ; the throat is black ; 
the upper parts of the body greyish brown, glossed with 
green ; the wing coverts are pale bluish grey, some of the 
feathers being green, margined with white; the fore neck 
and part of the breast are pale yellow, with some circular 
bars ; the rest of the breast white, with darker undulations 
on the abdomen. This is rather a rare species with us; it 
has been observed in several of the English counties, has 
occurred in Wales, and also in Scotland and Ireland. It 
seems to have a very extensive range of habitation, being 
found in India, Africa, the South of Europe, and thence as 
far north as Eussia and Sweden. 
The Gad wall, or Grey Duck, as the name is meant to 
signify, is a rare bird in this country, sometimes occurring 
in the winter, but more frequently in the spring, and never 
in any considerable numbers. It has a reddish brown 
neck and head, with a grey tint on the sides, the rest of the 
plumage is chiefly grey, of uneven shades, mottled, and 
varied with black and white ; there is a patch of chestnut 
