144 
British Birds. 
serve to distinguish the Pin-tail, which has also a bronzy-green speculum, bordered 
with black above and with white below. The speculum is present in the old female, 
but is of a bronzy-green tint. The bill is black, but inclines to leaden-blue on the 
sides of the upper mandible. The present species is believed to breed in the north 
of Scotland, but the fact is not yet proved, and it is known principally as a winter 
visitor. It is also said to have nested in Ireland, but no recent authentic instances 
of its doing so are known. It breeds throughout the Arctic Regions of Europe, 
Asia and America, and extends in winter far to the south of its nesting-range. It is 
a fresh-water Duck, only frequenting sea-coasts during migration. At other times 
it affects fresh-water lakes, rivers and swamps, where it feeds, like the Mallard, 
on water plants and insects, and it also visits the stubble-fields to pick 
up grain. The nest is generally placed at some distance from water among 
shrubs in dry places ; it is rather deep and is lined with grass and sedges, 
as well as with the bird’s down. The eggs are from seven to ten in number, 
and of a pale greenish-buff colour ; they measure from two to nearly two- 
and-a-half inches. 
THE GARGANEY 
(Qucrquedula 
qucrquedula.) 
This is a small species of Teal which differs from the 
true Teal in having a soft membrane fringing the terminal 
portion of the upper mandible, and in its blue upper wing- 
coverts, in which character it resembles the Shoveller. It 
visits England in the spring and breeds in the eastern counties, and probably 
in other parts of England. In other portions of Great Britain it is only 
known as an occasional visitor on migration. It nests throughout the greater 
part of Europe and extends to Central Asia, but does not breed very far 
north. It is a very shy and silent species, and leaves for the south at once 
on the approach of the cold weather. The nest is always placed in a retired 
situation, often far away from water, on the ground in a corn-field or under 
the shelter of a bush. It is a deep 
depression in the ground lined with 
grass and leaves, and with plenty 
of down, The eggs are from eight 
to twelve in number, of a buffy-white 
or cream colour, and they measure 
about one-and-three-quarters of an 
inch in length. 
A male of this 
North American 
species has been 
shot near Dum- 
fries, and it ap- 
pears to be of rare and accidental 
/X 
THE BLUE- 
WINGED TEAL. 
( Qucrquedula 
discors.) 
The Garganey. 
