LIFE HISTOEIES OF NOETH AMERICAN WILD FOWL. 129 



torpor. Wild fowl came flocking from their northern breeding places, among them 

 thousands of teal, hurtling overhead and splashing 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 stream 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 greonwings, disporting together. The approach to 

 the open waters is difhcult in most places, from the rank growths, first of shrubbery, 

 and next of reeda, that fringe the open banks; in other placos, where the stream nar- 

 rows in precipitous gorges, from the almost inaccessible rocks. But these difficulties 

 overcome, it is a pleasant sight to see the birds before us — perhaps within a few 

 paces, if we have very carefully crawled through the rushes to the verge — fancying 

 themselves perfectly secure. Some may be quietly paddling in and out of the sedge 

 on the other side, daintily picking up the floating seeds that were shaken down when 

 the wind rustled through, stretching up to gather tliose still hanging, or to pick off 

 little creatures from the seared stalks. Perhaps a flock is floating idly in midstream, 

 some asleep, with the head resting close on the back and the bill buried in the plum- 

 age. 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 gabbling 

 to each other their sense of perfect enjoyment. But let them appear never so care- 

 less, they are quick to catch the sound of coming danger and take alarm; they are 

 alert in an instant; the next incautious movement, or snapping of a twig, startles 

 them; a chorus of quacks, a splashing of feet, a whistling of wings, and the whole 

 company is off. He is a good sportsman who stops them then, for the stream twists 

 about, the reeds confuse, and the birds are out of sight almost as soon as seen. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Western North America and southern South 

 America. In North America east to western Montana (Missoula 

 County), eastern Wyoming (Lake Como), southwestern Kansas 

 (Meade County), and south central Texas (Bexar County). South 

 to southwestern Texas (Marathon), northern Mexico (Chihuahua), 

 and northern Lower California (San Rafael Valley). West to practi- 

 cally all the central valleys of California, central Oregon (Paulina 

 Marsh), and northwestern Washington (Tacoma). North to south- 

 ern British Columbia (Revolstoke, Okanogan and Chilliwack). In 

 South America, from central Argentina (Buenos Aires) south to the 

 Falkland Islands, and from the Straits of Magellan north in the 

 Andes to central Peru (Santa Luzia). 



^finter range. — Southwestern North America and central South 

 America. In North America east to southern Texas (Brownsville). 

 South to south central Mexico (Jalisco and Pucbla) and perhaps far- 

 ther; has occurred in Costa llica. North to central ('alifornia 

 (Stockton), southern Arizona (Tucson), central New Mexico, and 

 probably southwestern Texas. In South America south to central 

 Patagonia (Senger River) and southern Chile (Chiloe Island) . North 

 to southern Brazil (Rio Grande de Sul), southern Paraguay, Bolivia 

 (Lake Titicaca), Peru (Corillos), and rarely to Ecuador (Quito) and 



