Dr. Jerdon states that “ the Bhie-wiiig'ed or Garganey Teal is, perhaps, still more abundant in India than 
the Common Teal. It occurs in vast flocks, feeding at night chiefly, and has a swift flight. Numbers are 
caught and fed throughout the summer in our Tealeries, and, like the Teal, are most excellent food. Vast 
quantities of both these birds are annually caught alive, some by large flap-nets, others by nooses fixed to 
a long line across a jheel, and in some places by a man wading with his head above water, concealed in a 
large earthen chatty, several of which have been previously set afloat.” 
The Garganey becomes tolerably contented in confinement, but is very sensitive to the cold of our climate ; 
were this not the case, I know of no aquatic bird so well adapted to the ornamental water, or that would 
contribute more to the ])leasure of those admirers of the Duck tribe who may be desirous of keeping some 
of the species in a semidomesticated state. 
The male Garganey, being subject to the same changes of plumage as the Teal, throws off about mid- 
summer the fine livery in which he is decked in spring, and assumes a more sombre dress, somewhat 
resembling that of the female, in which state he remains until the ensuing spring, when he is again stimu- 
lated to pair and perform the duty of incubation. 
The nest is said to be formed of dry grass, and placed in a bunch of reeds. Hie eggs, which are ten or 
twelve in number, are of a buff colour, one inch and nine lines in length by one inch and three lines in 
breadth. 
The following is a free translation of some passages respecting the Garganey from M. Ballly’s ‘ Ornitho- 
logie de la Savoie — 
“The Garganey arrives in Savoy during the month of March and the early part of April, in pairs or 
small companies, which stay on our waters and marshes for a few days only, being stimulated to proceed to 
the North of Europe for the purpose of reproduction ; but occasionally some couples remain and breed in 
our dreariest marshes. There they select, in a miry place, an inaccessible spot, raised above the water 
and covered with compact tufts of rushes and grass, for the formation of the nest, which is made by the 
female thrusting herself into one of the thickest of these tufts, treading it down in the centre, and lining 
the space with herbage, feathers, and down. It is extremely difficult to discover the nest, in consequence of 
the grasses overhanging it, and the stalks of the rushes concealing the entrance. The eggs are from seven to 
twelve in number, and are of a dirty white, lightly tinted with red. Each family keeps to itself till the end of 
August or the beginning of September, when those reared in the same district unite and emigrate. During this 
autumnal movement, the bird passes through our valleys, but always in smaller numbers than in the spring, 
none remaining during the winter. Although timid, the Garganey is easily ap])roached, is elegant in 
contour and plumage, vivacious in its movements both in the air and on the water, flies in troops, and, 
while so doing, is seen to sport and play in a thousand ways, and to emit its cry, which is very similar to 
that of the Land-Rail, which resembles krec-krec or kric-kric, and is often repeated in the same tone, whence 
its trivial names of Criquet and Criquart.” 
The Plate represents a male, of the natural size, and a group of both sexes, reduced. The plant is the 
Nnphar lutea. 
