774 'I'lili I'.I.rivW'IXCED TEAL. 



tlic ludicrous maniuT cnnniion tn all llit- pdiid aiul ri\cr ducks. Litcrallv 

 staudiny i lu their lica<l>. with miK llic lowiT hall of ihc hcnK' al)ii\c walcr, 

 the tail is left to point straight skyward, while the little feet kick the water 

 most vigorously in order to maintain a correct balance. 



The State of W'asliington is foi'tunate in being \'er\' liberallv suj^plied with 

 this rei)resentati\e of the Teal Famil_\'. During fall, winter, and spring, it is 

 one of our commonest ducks. arri\ing from the Xorth in large numbers early 

 in ()cuiber. l')\- the lirst of April nearly all ha\e lell again for the breeding 

 grounds in the Xorth; but occasional flocks are seen so early in the fall thai it 

 is fair to speculate ujion the possibility of a few pairs remaining to rear their 

 N'nung within the Imrders of our State. 



The only call note of the Teal I have e\er heard is a miniature "quack." 

 and this is given onl\- bv the female. It is similar Id the call <jf the Alallard. 

 but of coitrse. is ci instructed mi a \ery much smaller scale. 



Green-winged Teals are prime fa\-orites with sportsmen on account of 

 their in\'ariable fitness for the table, for their difficulty as marks on the wing, 

 and for their readiness to come in to a decov. This last trait onl}- tcio often 

 leads to their undning. for the}- are so sociably inclined that, when flying 

 singly or in small docks, they are always ready to pay a visit to any kind of 

 ducks iir geese. Ije thev feathered i ir wooden. 



J. H. Bow I.I. s. 



No. 311. 



BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



A. O. U. No. 140. Querqiiediila discors 1 Linn. K 



Description. — . /(/;/// male: ]'"urehead and cruwii i narrow ly ) and region 

 about base of bill bright blackish ; a large white crescent on side of face before 

 eye: rest of head and upper neck warm plumbeous, with metallic, wine-purple 

 reflections (like the plumage of certain d(lve^ ) : fore-neck and entire underparts 

 to crissum. including lengthened feathers of sides ('nearly meeting across back 

 when wings are folded) purplish-yinaceous or ])urplish-chestnut. heaviest on 

 breast, paling laterally, spotted on crop and sides, and barred on breast, belly, 

 and longer tfank feathers, with blackish ; up])er back and sca])ulars greenish fus- 

 cous, with narrow and elongated \'-shaped markings of vinaceous-cinnamon : 

 inner scapulars and tertiaries, narrow and elongated, greenish dusky, striped with 

 vinaceous-cinnamon ; lower back and behind nearly plain dusky ; crissum and tail 

 externally blackish ; flanks white ; wing-coverts and outer webs of outer scapulars 

 and tertiaries a beautiful light grayish blue: speculum shining bronzy green (not 

 so bright as in Ncttiaii caroliiiciisis, inore "sickly"' ) with dusky on either side, 

 and bordered in front by broad white tips of greater coverts : axillars and lining 

 of wings mostly white: bill grayish black: feet dingy yellow with dusky webs 

 and claws: iris brown. .-Idult female (and male iti summev}: ^\'ing substantially 

 as before, or greater coverts not so extensively white-tijijied : no other indication 



