i64 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



in breadth. Incubation, performed by the female, lasts 

 about three weeks. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of this Teal 

 cannot be distinguished from those of the European 

 Teal, or from those of the Blue-winged Teal. As the 

 European Teal does not breed in the New World there 

 is no chance of confusion between the eggs in situ, and 

 it is probable that the down of the two American Teals 

 is different, serving to identify the eggs, but as usual 

 our transatlantic naturalists have failed to describe it. 

 They are ready enough to tell us that the nests of these 

 Ducks are warmly lined with down, but the character- 

 istics of that down are beneath their consideration or 

 description. 



Family ANATID/E. Genus Anas. 



Sub-family ANA TINyE. 



B L U E-W INGED TEAL. 



Anas discors, Li?ificBus. 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant, of doubtful 

 occurrence.) 



Single Brooded probably. Laying season. May and early 

 June. 



Breeding area : Central and Southern Nearctic 

 region. The Blue-winged Teal breeds throughout the 

 North-American continent up to about lat. 60"", and as far 

 south as Florida and Northern Mexico (to the Tropic of 

 Cancer). It is much rarer and more local west of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



Breeding habits : The Blue-winged Teal is not 

 nearly so boreal a species as the American Teal, but 



