QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA, CINNAMON TEAL. 569 



of the South American representatives of the species. It has not yet 

 been determined whether these are coincident in migration or not; but 

 the supposition that they are so is the more improbable one. It is also 

 a question whether the species was indigenous to both or only one of 

 the divisions of the hemisphere ; and if the latter, which one," and at 

 what time did the migration into the other occur. Some may incline 

 to the opinion that it was originally a bird of South America that only 

 recently extended into our country, arguing from the extreme improba- 

 bility of so conspicuous a bird as it now is remaining so long utidiscov- 

 ered. It being tlrst detected in Louisiana, where it is now scarcely or 

 not at all to be found, strengthens the belief that the Louisiana birds 

 were among the first to apper in the country, at a time before the spe- 

 cies determined for itself the habitat that it subsequently found best 

 suited to its new conditions. 



There appears to be nothing in the habits of this Teal noticeably 

 different from those of its well-known ally, the Blue-winged, and 

 probably little need be said on this score. But I never think of the 

 bird without recalling scenes in which it was a prominent figure. I 

 have in mind a picture of the headwaters of the Rio Verde, in Novem- 

 ber, just before winter had fairly set in, although frosts had already 

 touched the foliage and dressed evei'y tree and bush in gorgeous colors. 

 The atmosphere showed a faint yellow haze, and was heavy with odors — 

 souvenirs of departing flowers. The sap of the trees coursed sluggishly, 

 no longer lending elastic vigor to the limbs, that now cracked and broke 

 when forced apart ; the leaves loosened their hold, for want of the same 

 mysterious tie, and fell in showers where the Quail rustled over their 

 withering forms. Woodpeckers rattled with exultation against the re- 

 sounding bark, and seemed to know of the greater store for them now in 

 the nerveless, drowsy trees, that resisted the chisel less stoutly than when 

 they were full of juicy life. Ground squirrels worked hard, gathering 

 the last seeds and nuts to increase their winter's store, and cold blooded 

 reptiles dragged their stiffening joints to bask in sunny spots, and 

 stimulate the slow current of circulation, before they should withdraw 

 and sink into torpor. Wild fowl came flocking from their northern 

 breeding places — among them thousands of Teal, hurtling overhead and 

 plashing in the waters they were to enliven and adorn all winter. 



The upper parts of both forks of the Verde are filled with beavers, 

 that have dammed the streams at short intervals, and transformed 

 them, in some places, into a succession of pools, where the Teal swim in 

 still water. Other wild fowl join them, such as Mallards, Pintails, and 

 Green -wings, disporting together. The approach to tlie oixmi waters is 

 dithcult in most places, from the rank growths, first of shrubbery, and 

 next of reeds, that fringe the open banks ; in other places, where the 

 stream narrows in precipitous gorges, from the almost inaccessible 

 rocks. But these ditficulties oven^ome, it is a pleasant sight to see the 

 birds before us — perl aps within a few pac»^s, if we have very carcfnlly 

 crawled through the rushes to the verge — fjincying themselves perfectly 

 secure. Some m;iy be (juietly i)addling in and out of the sedge on the 

 other side, (hiintily picking up the lloating seeds that were shaken down 

 when the wind rusthul through, stretching up to gather those still hang- 

 ing, or to i)iek of little creatures from the seared stalks. Perhaps a 

 flock is Uoaling idly in midstream, some asleep, with the head resting 

 close on the back and the bill buried in the plumage. Some others swim 

 vigorously along, with breasts deeply immersed, tasting the water as 

 they go, straining it through their bills, to net minute insects, and gab- 

 bling to each other their sense of i)erfecl enjoyment. But let them 



