1082 
ANAS CIRCIA. 
In Southern Europe it is a common species, breeding in Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Spain at Perpignan. 
It likewise breeds in Sicily ; is found in Malta in spring and autumn, and occasionally in summer ; occurs 
in Sardinia in spring; appears in Savoy in March and April, a few remaining to nest; and is a summer 
visitant to Germany, France, and Belgium. It is plentiful at the same season in Denmark, and not uncommon 
in South Sweden, extending north as a straggler, hut not above lat. 60° about. It has been procured near 
Christiania, according to Mr. Collett. It is sparingly distributed throughout England in the summer, breeding 
still in some localities in Norfolk ; it is rare in the western parts of the country, and is very seldom seen in 
Wales ; it is likewise rare in Scotland, and in Ireland only occurs as a straggler. Turning south, again, we 
find that in Northern Africa it is distributed from west to east. Favier states that it appears irregularly near 
Tangier in February and March on its migration to the north, returning in September. Mr. Salviu met with 
it in the Atlas district ; and in Algeria it is common. In Egypt it is moderately abundant and resident, 
according to Captain Shelley; but Von Heuglin says it is chiefly a winter visitant, extending south to 
lat. 10° N., spreading along Abyssinian mountain-streams, and frequenting probably the entire coast of the 
Red Sea. It has been noticed on the west coast of Africa, but not in the south of the continent. 
Halits. — -This handsome bird has much the same mode of life as its ally, the equally if not better known 
Common Teal — principally frequenting fresh water, but sometimes in winter resorting to shallow coasts, 
where the tide recedes and leaves an oozy foreshore abounding in food. It is chiefly a nocturnal feeder, 
subsisting on grain, seeds, roots, water-plants, worms, small frogs, larvae, &c., and feeds occasionally, it is said, 
on small fishes ; it resorts to shallow water in marshes, particularly where the bottom is muddy, and during 
the day hides among reeds and rushes, or in grass at the margins of flooded marshes. Like other Ducks 
they wander about a good deal at night, alighting on small ponds or pools to feed, and perhaps remaining in 
quiet spots of this sort, if there is sufficient cover, throughout the day. They fly very swiftly, and are said, 
when migrating with other Ducks, not to mingle with them, but to proceed only in company with their 
own species. Great numbers are caught in India, and fed in “ Tealeries ” for the market, their flesh being 
excellent. In the north of Ceylon Layard writes that they used to be shot by native hunters using their plough- 
buffaloes trained for the purpose : guided by a couple of ropes, the shooter walking on the side away from 
the wild-fowl, and pulling either rope, as occasion requires, to keep himself on the offside, the buffaloes are 
brought within shot of the birds, and the man then rests his gun on the animal’s shoulder and fires. The Garganey 
is not a shy bird when not molested frequently ; its ordinary note is a harsh kndk, from which its German 
name Kndk-Ente is derived ; in the breeding-season the Drake is described as uttering a loud harsh call. 
Nidification. — The “ Summer Teal” breeds in April and May, both in Central Asia and in Europe. It 
is said to have nested within Indian limits, as Col. Tickell speaks of having a just-fledged young one brought 
to him near Moulmein. As it is a species which breeds in comparatively warm regions, there is no reason 
why it should not occasionally do so in India. The nest is placed on the ground in marshes, meadows, 
and boggy places near water, amongst sedges and rushes ; it is made of flags, rushes, reeds, &c., and is, as 
usual, lined with down plucked from the bird’s breast. The eggs of the Garganey somewhat resemble those 
of the common species, but are larger and have a slightly greenish tinge. They may be described as obscure 
or dull white, tinged very faintly with olivaceous, but which is not perceptible in some ; others are faintly 
tinged with brown. A fine series before me, consisting of two perfect clutches taken in Holland, are almost 
perfect ovals, slightly stumpy at the obtuse end, smooth in texture, and moderately glossy. Some examples 
of one clutch measure F82 by 1 '27, F78 by F26, 1'79 by l‘26inch; and three specimens of the other 
clutch measure 1‘8 by F37, F78 by F32, l - 77 by F5. In the latter some eggs are rather stumpy at the 
small end. 
The “nest-down” is pale brown, with white centres and just perceptible white tips. 
