82 
The Natural History of British Ducks 
a straightforward flight and either dive downwards, or what is far more 
difficult for the gunner to accept, shoot straight upwards, and only present as 
a target a practically invulnerable stern.^ It is a pretty sight on a sunny 
day to watch a flock of Teal about to settle : they wheel and swing almost as 
much as flocks of Dunlins, the dark backs and the light breasts alternately 
shining; and it is not until they have thoroughly surveyed their prospective 
resting-place and its approaches that they come to a halt. Whilst on the 
wing one male occasionally utters his low double whistle, but Teal are silent 
birds at all times, and the female rarely calls unless frightened, such as when 
the brood is threatened, when she emits a subdued little 'quack.' The food 
of the Teal is much the same as other surface-feeding ducks, but in Europe 
it does not go to the grain fields, although it will thrive well in confinement 
on hard substances. 
Although Teal when in packs are easier to shoot than other duck 
with the punt gun, they often escape through the fact that they give no 
warning to the gunner that they are about to rise, as other duck will always 
do. They will rise suddenly into the air from the resting position, dis- 
concerting the most carefully laid plans, so it is best to fire when within shot 
and take your chance of bagging a few birds. Of shoulder-gun shooting at 
Teal I have endeavoured to give some account in the 'The Wild-Fowler in 
Scotland,' so I need say no more on the subject. 
In the case of the ducks it may be that the disposition to mate is, as 
with the deer, regulated, firstly, by the desire and fitness on the part of the 
female to do so, for in the springtime it is a common sight to witness 
amongst the Teal flock a number of males all paying attention to one 
particular female. Other females swim about, yet the males take no notice of 
1 With regard to the speed at which surface-feeding ducks fly, Sir R. Payne Gallwey has an interesting note in his 
Letters to Young Shooters, third series, p. 149, and quotes a letter from Captain Gould, who says that he estimates Teal 
to fly at the rate of 144 miles an hour. I think that this slightly over-estimates the pace ; at any rate, in a similar case, I 
have timed Wigeon passing from promontory to promontory, and could not make out that their speed exceeded goto 100 
miles an hour. Golden Plover are undoubtedly the fastest flying of British birds, although the Peregrine is generally 
given the palm. Partridges, Grouse, and Black Game vary, according to conditions, from 30 to 60 miles a hour. 
