1 ne Uarganey 73 
the value of duck flesh for the table is entirely dependent on the matter upon 
which the duck have been feeding, irrespective of species, for that usually 
best of all table birds, the Wigeon, when living on sea cockles, as many do on 
the north-east coast of Scotland, may be quite unfit for human food, whilst 
the rank Eider may be rendered fat and delicate of flavour by keeping it in 
confinement and feeding it on wheat and barley. The Garganey feeds largely on 
small fish and aquatic insects, and does not eat much vegetable substance ; so 
the flesh usually has the rank and bitter taste common to all insectivorous 
and fish-eating birds. 
There is little to say of the general habits and movements of the 
Garganey, which are not similar to the Shoveler. The flight is easy and 
rapid, and more like that duck than the Teal, for it is not so swift nor so 
abrupt in its first perpendicular rise as the latter; neither does it turn and 
swing so much. Like the Shoveler, too, it is fond of beating up and down 
over the marsh that is to be its summer home, especially on windy mornings, 
when it may be seen continually on the wing. In general appearance 
Garganey sit very high on the water, and the males are not difficult to dis- 
tinguish by means of their pronounced eye-stripe. 
The female, unless paired with the male, is at all times difficult to dis- 
tinguish from the female Teal, especially as her call resembles the sharp 
' quack ' of that species ; but the adult female Garganey can generally be 
recognised at a short distance by the yellow-white band of the eye and the 
yellow-white and unspotted chin. 
The Garganey again shows his affinity to the Shoveler in his undemon- 
strative courtship, which is almost precisely similar to that duck. In the 
spring-time the male swims closely round the female, spreading his long 
scapulars and ruffling his head feathers to show his splendid plumage off" to 
best advantage. The two birds also indulge in the peculiar 'spin' round each 
other, head to stern, and allowing the water to rush through the bills, which 
are buried to the nose beneath the surface. No doubt this creation of a vortex 
may be a means of stirring up water insects for food, but I have little doubt 
