152 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



may easily be recognized by the broad bill, blue wing coverts and 

 green speculum. The bill widens rapidly to the end, where it is twice as 

 ^wide as at the base, and is dull greenish in color. The iris is yellow and 

 the feet. bright orange. The female may be known by the bill and the 

 wings. The Spoonbill, as it is often called, makes its nest on the ground 

 in the most boggy and difficult places of access, near waters. It is com- 

 posed of grass and weeds. 



Hab. Northern Hemisphere. In North America breeding from Alaska to 'lexas. Not abundant on the 

 Atlantic coast. 



609. Blue-winged Teal — ouerquedula discors. Greenish or buff, 

 lighter in color than those of the Green-winged Teal; they vary from 

 ovate to ovoidal, and are sometimes nearly oval in shape ; six to ten in 

 number, and vary in size from 1.30 to 1.35 broad by 1.90 to 1.95 long. 

 This beautiful little duck inhabits North America in general, but chiefly 

 the Eastern Province. It breeds from the Northern United States north- 

 ward. • Readily known by its small size, blue wings and narrow bill. The 

 feet are yellowish. The male has a white, crescent-shaped spot in front 

 of the eye. The female is brown throughout, with the feathers edged 

 with whitish which becomes prominent below. The throat is creamy; 

 the wings are as in the male. Besides its beauty it is also noted for its 

 excellence of flesh. The nest is made on the ground, in a thick patch or 

 tussock of grass, usually in meadows, the border of ponds or streams and 

 swampy places. It is composed of soft pieces of grass and weeds, lined 

 with down and feathers from the breast of the bird. 



Hab. North America, but chiefly the Eastern Province; north to Alaska and south to the West Indies 

 and Northern South America. 



610. Cinnamon Teal — querquedula cvanoptera. Creamy-white or 

 pale buff ; six to twelve; one end smaller than the other; size from 1.90 

 to 2. 10 long by 1.30 to 1.40 broad. This pretty South American Teal 

 is now abundant in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 breeds anywhere in this range; Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho, 

 Oregon, etc. In the adult male the head, neck and under parts are rich 

 chestnut, the wing coverts are sky-blue, as in the Blue-winged Teal. The 

 bill is black, feet orange with dusky webs and joints; iris orange. The 

 speculum is green and is set between the white tips of the greater coverts 

 and the secondaries. The female is not easily distinguished from that of 

 the Blue-winged species, but is larger, the bill longer and dusky; iris 

 brown and the feet yellowish-drab. The nest of this Teal is made on the 

 ground in swampy places; it is composed of grass, lined with down and 



