114 
COMMON TEAL. 
sort to the inundated lands, parties assembling from 
various parts of the neighbourhood; and in severe 
winters it may he met with in ditches or rivers, 
where, however, it does not seem to be at home, and 
ceases to frequent, so soon as support can be found 
elsewhere. The teal is not nearly so shy a bird as 
many of our wild fowl, and with ordinary care may 
always he approached ; when disturbed, it flies in 
circles around, wheeling somewhat like plovers ; 
and, if taken at the proper time, several may often 
be procured at a shot. We have found the nest, 
generally at a distance from the water, placed dry, 
often among brush or young plantations, formed 
upon the ground, upon the same plan as that of the 
mallard. 
In England, again, Mr. Yarrell states that it is a 
winter visitor, making its appearance by the end of 
September, the numbers increasing during winter by 
additional arrivals from the north of Europe ; at the 
same time, several instances of its breeding are given. 
The same ornithologist states that it stands confine- 
ment well, those in the gardens of the Zoological 
Society having bred regularly for the last five 
seasons. 
Out of Britain it is pretty generally found on the 
continent extending north to Norway and Sweden, 
in some parts of which it is partially migratory ; it 
extends to Northern Asia, and we have it also 
among the birds of the Indian peninsula. It visits 
Northern Africa in winter. * 
* Yarrell. 
