72 The Natural History of British Ducks 
asked on this question, quite agreed that the numbers of the Garganey and 
their increase 'had been greatly exaggerated.' ^ The Garganey visits Lincoln- 
shire and Hampshire, and has bred recently in both of these counties. It has 
also bred in Yorkshire, and used to do so regularly in Northumberland before 
the drainage of Prestwick Car ; but now it is extremely rare in the north and 
west of England. The Garganey is said to have occurred on Jura in the 
Inner, and Barra in the Outer, Hebrides, but I have never seen a specimen 
that has been obtained on the mainland of vScotland, although there are 
numerous records of its supposed occurrence. Dr. Saxby stated that he shot 
one in September at Balta Sound, Unst, and that is probably the only 
genuine example killed in the northern isles. 
In Ireland the Garganey is also only a rare visitor in the spring-time, 
chiefly to the southern counties, but it has also occurred, as in England, 
on the autumnal migration. Messrs. Ussher and Warren regard the species as 
a rare wanderer, and give about twenty records of its capture. 
In general habits the Garganey closely resembles the Teal and the 
Shoveler, between which species it forms a very definite link, embracing as it 
does, both in structure and in habits, many of the peculiarities of both. It 
loves to gutter in boggy swamps, and to sit and rest by day in still back- 
waters, and in its absence of activity, retiring disposition, and small numbers 
consorting together, it more closely resembles the larger bird. In India during 
the winter the Garganey gathers on the Jeels in immense numbers ; but in 
Europe, possibly from their comparative scarcity, they are not so nearly gre- 
garious, and even in their favourite haunts they are generally only seen in small 
flocks. Apparently, too, they are less marine than the Teal, which will go to the 
sea during hard weather rather than migrate south ; but they will nevertheless 
frequent brackish estuaries such as the Rhone delta. At such times their flesh 
is poor eating, and far inferior to the Teal. I have tried others from the 
brackish lakes of Algeria, but they were equally rank and unpalatable. But 
' After the most careful inquiries I could not ascertain that there were more than fourteen nests in Norfolk during 
the year 1900. 
