2 
GARGANEY. 
paces. The road on which these young ducks were met with was at least a mile from any rush-marsh or other 
suitable locality where a Garganey might have been supposed to nest, and was bordered on either side by 
cultivated fields. A large pollard oak was overhanging the spot where the birds were first observed ; and as it 
has been stated that Wildfowl have occasionally been known to breed in the shelter to be obtained where the 
branches have been cut, I carefully examined the whole of the crown of the tree, but not the slightest signs of 
the young having been there could he detected. It is probable that the old bird was taking her newly hatched 
brood down towards the Broad, hut wdiere her nest could have been, unless in some dry hedgerow, it is 
impossible to form an opinion. When first brought in the young birds were extremely lively, and on being 
placed in a box, about eighteen or twenty inches in height, lined with flannel, two or three made their escape, 
climbing up the side with the greatest rapidity, by aid of their sharp little claws, and commencing to catch flicg 
on the panes of glass in the window. A few hours after they had been taken the youngsters appeared to grow 
gradually weaker and become more helpless, finally gasping for breath, and though the greatest care and 
attention was bestowed on them, none survived the day. 
There is little difference in the colouring of the down on the nestlings of the Garganey and Common Teal, 
both exhibiting much the same yellow tinge, with dark brown markings. The colours of the soft parts of the 
young of this species may be described as follows, the notes being taken while the birds were alive : — Upper 
mandible dark brown, nail red-brown, under mandible flesh tint ; inside of mouth pale flesh ; iris hazel ; legs 
dark brown, a light line outside leg and at the side of each toe, nails a dull brown. 
In 1875 I noticed several broods of Garganey were strong on wing by the end of the first week in July, 
numbers coming every day to feed about the pools in the reed-hushes at Ilickling Broad and affording capital 
sport if a few were required. In the state of plumage exhibited at this season immature Garganeys have more 
than once been mistaken for the Blue-winged Teal, and, considering that the juveniles have never been figured 
by any author, the error is certainly excusable in those who have never met with a chance of observing them 
in life. The colours of the soft parts of tliose shot at this time were as follows : — Upper and lower mandibles a 
dull smoky blue ; legs, toes, and webs of feet the same tint ; iris hazel. 
