Bhe-tvingcd Teal. — Anas discors, 15S 



Iflocks of perhaps from eight to twelve, feeding in low marshy ground upon 

 the shores of rivers. Their flight is very rapid, like that of a pigeon, and 

 when about to alight they drop down suddenly, like a snipe or wood-cock. 

 The flesh of this species is excellent, and may be considered quite a delicacy 

 for the table, compared with many others of the duck species. 



Ths bird, like the black duck, never dives in feeding, but when 

 •wounded, like the latter, dives with great rapidity and cunning. 



The blue-winged Teal is comparatively easy to approach, consequently 

 it falls an easy sacrifice to the gun of the sportsman. The male and female 

 bird differ but little in plumage, both being of a light grey color and 

 marked with a blue spot on the wing. In shape this species is precisely 

 similar to the black duck, ana in habit much the same, both delighting to 

 feed around the muddy shores of rivers. This species does not breed in 

 this part of Canada. They generally make their first appearance here 

 about the month of July, and they are then in excellent condition. 



The above are Mr. Lett's observations on this bird, and the following 

 is the description given by Wilson, in his American Ornithology : — 



" The blue-winged Teal is the first of its tribe that returns to us in the 

 autumn from its breeding place in the north. They are usually seen early 

 in September, along the shores of the Delaware, where they sit on the mud 

 close to the edge of the water, so crowded together that the gunners often 

 kill great numbers at a single discharge. When a flock is discovered thus 

 sitting and sunning themselves, the experienced gunner runs his batteau 

 ashore at some distance below or above them, and getting out, pushes her 

 before him over the slippery mud, concealing hin~self all the while behind 

 her ; by this method he can sometimes approach within twenty yards of the 

 flock, among Vv'hich he generally makes great slaughter. They fly rapidly, 

 and, when they alight, drop down suddenly, liLie the Snipe or Woodcock, 

 among the reeds or on the mud. They feed chiefly on vegetable food, and 

 are eagerly fond of the seeds of the reeds or v/ild oats. Their flesh is 

 excellent, and, after their residence for a short time among the reeds, 

 become very fat. As the first frosts comes on, they proceed to the south, 

 being a delicate bird, very susceptible of cold. They abound in the 

 inundated rice-fields, in the Southern States, where vast numbers are taken 

 in traps placed on small, dry eminences, that here and there rise above the 

 water. These places are strewed with rice, and by the common contrivance 

 called a, figure four, they are caught alive in hollow traps. In the month 

 of April they pass through Pennsylvania for the north, but make little 

 stay at that season. I have observed them numerous on the Hudson 

 opposite to the Katskill Mountains. They rarely visit the sea-shore. 



" This species measures about fourteen inches in length, and twenty- 

 two inches in extent ; the bill is long in proportion, and of a dark dusky 

 slate ; the front and upper part of the head are black ; from the eye 

 to the chin is a large crescent of wliite ; the rest of the head and half the 

 neck are of a dark slate, richly glossed with green and violet ; remainder 

 of the neck and breast is black or dusky, thickly marked with semicircles 



