BRITISH BIRDS. 
378, 
and edged with grey : the wings and legs nearly the 
fame as thofe of the male. 
The Teal is common in England in the winter 
months, but it is uncertain whether or not they re- 
main throughout the year to breed, * as is the cafe 
in France. The female makes a large neft, com- 
pofed of foft dried graffes, (and, it is faid, the pith 
of rufhes) lined with feathers, and cunningly con- 
cealed in a hole among the roots of reeds and bull- 
ruflics near the edge of the water, and fome alTert 
that it refts on the furface of the water fo as to rife 
and fall with it. The eggs are of the fize of thofe 
of a Pigeon, fix or feven in number, and of a dull 
white colour, marked with fmall brownifh fpots ; 
but it appears that they fometimes lay ten or twelve 
eggs, for Buffon remarks that that number of 
young are feen in clufters on the pools, feeding on 
creffes, wild chervil, &c. and no doubt, as they 
grow up, they feed, like other Ducks, on the vari- 
ous feeds, graffes, and water-plants, as well as up- 
on the fmaller animated beings with which all ftag- 
nant waters are fo abundantly ftored. The Teal is 
highly efteemed for the excellent flavour of its flefli : 
it is known to breed, and remain throughout the 
year in various temperate climates of the world, 
and is met with as far northward as Iceland in the 
fummer. 
* Dr Heyfliam fays the Teal is now known to breed 
in the moffes about Carlifle.” 
