Dr. Jerdon states that “ the Blue-winged or Garganey Teal is, perhaps, still more abundant in India than
the Common Teal. It occurs in vast docks, 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 eartben chatty, several o f 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 pleasure of those admirers of the Duck tribe who may he desirous of keeping some
o f 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 o f the female, in which state he remains until the ensuing spring, when be is again stimu-
Iated to pair and perform the duty o f incubation.
The nest is said to be formed of dry grass, and placed in a bunch of reeds. The eggs, which are ten or
twelve in number, are o f a buff colour, one inch and nine lines in length by one inch and three Unes in
breadth.
The following is a free translation of some passages respecting the Garganey from M. Bailly’s ‘ Ornitho-
logie de la S a v o ie—
“ The Garganey arrives in Savoy during the month o f 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 o f rushes and grass, for the formation o f the nest, which is made by the
female thrusting herself into one of the thickest o f 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 o f 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 approached, 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 fcric-kric, and is often repeated in the same tone, whence
its trivial names of Criquet and Criquart.”
The Plate represents a male, o f the natural size, and a group of both sexes, reduced. The plant is the
Nuphar lutea.