page [7] (seq. 8)

7
1900
Feb.21
to Mar.10
(2)

In the first compartment as you enter the
building is a flock of noisy Teal, some fifty
in number. They are as dainty little creatures
as I ever saw, darting about hither and thither
and uttering their odd sharp notes, a sort of
whistle, while I heard some of them at
times distinctly quack. There are three spe-
cies, the European Green-winged Teal (Nettion crecca)
distinguished from our species by the absence
of the white bar in part of the wing. The
male is a very beautiful little creature, the
deep rufous and green on the head forming
a vivid contrast. The next species is the
Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula discors), more modest
in color than the former, but none the less
attractive. The broad white marks on the head
form a conspicuous mark. The female of these
two species are very modest in coloration
and very similar in appearance when the wings
are hidden by the body feathers, hiding the
colors, but the Blue-winged is considerably
larger than the Green-winged. The third species
is the Garganey of Europe, a kind of teal
(Querquedula circia). It's general color
is brown, but a white stripe runs over
the eye and curves down on the side of
the head. The female or immature bave
the same stripe of a much duller hue.
Some Teal were alseep on the water shore
with head buried in the feathers of the back.
Others were swimming or running about in every direction