. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . ce and the Governors house it required some caution toavoid treading on the nests, while the drakes were walking abouteven more familiar than common ducks. The ducks were sittingon their nests all round the house, on the garden wall, on the roof,in the inside of the house, and on the chapel. The locality where the Eiders make their nests when not in theabove semi-tame state is always difficult of access. Nevertheless, THE COMMON TEAL, 233 the inhabitants of I
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . ce and the Governors house it required some caution toavoid treading on the nests, while the drakes were walking abouteven more familiar than common ducks. The ducks were sittingon their nests all round the house, on the garden wall, on the roof,in the inside of the house, and on the chapel. The locality where the Eiders make their nests when not in theabove semi-tame state is always difficult of access. Nevertheless, THE COMMON TEAL, 233 the inhabitants of Iceland, Lapland, and the coasts of the NorthSea invariably secure them. The harvest which is derived fromthese birds is their principal source of revenue, eider-down beinga valuable article of commerce. In inhabited countries the rockswhere the Eider Ducks lay their eggs are private property, and arehanded down in families just as if they were the most valuablepossessions. This ( Isles. The Common Teal (^Anas crecca). ZZ) is the smallest of the Duck kind known in theIt is a remarkably beautiful bird, and in colouring as. Fig. 88.—The Common Teal. well as in form closely resembles the Mallard, but is much frequents marshy places and the margins of lakes and rivers,seldom betaking itself to estuaries or the sea-coast until frost sets walks with ease, swims with great dexterity, flies rapidly, and isin all respects remarkable for its activity. It rises from the wateror the land at once, and shoots away with great rapidity, so that themarksman who would bring it down must be very expert with hisgun. It breeds in the long reedy grasses on the margin of lakes, oron upland moors and marshes. Its nest is a mass of decayedvegetable matter lined with down and feathers, in which it laysten or twelve eggs about an inch and three-quarters in length andan inch and a quarter in breadth. North of the Tay they are I * 234 REPTILES AND BIRDS. found occasionally all
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
