132 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



tials black, with a central stripe of buff; a white patch at the base of the tail on each 

 side; axillars immaculate pure white. Bill uniform black; iris brown; feet yellowish, 

 with dusky webs. Adult female: Wings, only, as in the male; upper parts dusky, the 

 feathers bordered with dull buff, the pileum and nape finely streaked; rest of head and 

 neck, and lower parts generally, brownish white, the head and neck streaked with dusky, 

 except on the chin and upper part of the throat, the streaks more dense immediately 

 before and behind the eye; thus forming an indistinct stripe on the side of the head; 

 feathers of the lower parts generally with dusky grayish brown centres, forming spots 

 when exposed, less distinct on the abdomen, where sometimes obsolete. 



Total length, about 16 inches; extent, about 25; wing, 7.00-7.50; culmen, 1.40-1.65; tar- 

 sus, 1.20-1.30; middle toe, 1.40-1.45. 



The Blue-winged Teal is probably the most numerous of our 

 smaller ducks, and, though by far the larger number occur only 

 during the migrations, individuals may be found at all times of 

 the year under favorable circumstances of locality and weather. 

 The bulk of the species, however, winter in the Gulf States and 

 southward, while the breeding range is difficult to make out, 

 owing to the fact that it is not gregarious during the breeding 

 season, but occurs scatteringly in isolated localities where it is 

 most likely to escape observation. 



"The flight of this duck is extremely rapid, fully as swift as 

 that of the Passenger Pigeon. When advancing against a stiff 

 breeze it shows alternately its upper and lower surface. During 

 its flight it utters a soft, lispiug note, which it also emits when 

 apprehensive of danger. It swims buoyantly, and when in a 

 flock so closely together that the individuals nearly touch each 

 other. In consequence of this habit hunters are able to make a 

 frightful havoc among these birds on their first appearance in 

 the fall, when they are easily approached. Audubon has seen 

 as many as eighty-four killed by a single discharge of a double- 

 barelled gun. 



"It may readily be kept in confinement, soon becomes very 

 docile, feeds readily on coarse corn-meal, and might easily be 

 domesticated. Professor Kumlien, however, has made several 

 unsuccessful attempts to raise this duck by placing its eggs 

 under a domestic hen. He informs me that this species is the 

 latest duck to arrive in the spring. It is very common, and 

 breeds abundantly, in southern Wisconsin, especially on the 

 borders of Lake Koshkonong. It nests on the ground among 

 the reeds and coarse herbage, generally near the water, but he 

 has met with its nest at least half a mile from the nearest water, 

 though always on low land. The nest is simply an accumula- 



