NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 153 



feathers. Its habits on the whole do not differ from those of its well- 

 known ally, the Blue-winged. 



Hab. Western America from the Columbia River south to Chili, Patagonia and Falkland Islands; east 

 in North America to the Rocky Mountains; casual in the Mississippi Valley. 



612. Green-wins^ed Teal — nettion carolinensis. Greenish or buff; 

 usually ovoidal, sometimes nearly oval, and vary in size from 1.73 to 1.90 

 long by 1.22 to 1.32 broad; they are from five to eight in number. This 

 handsome little Duck is exceedingly abundant throughout North America 

 and breeds from the northern borders of the United States northward. 

 During the spring and fall migrations it is one of the most abundant of 

 water-fowl, frequenting the small brooks and ponds as well as the larger 

 waters. It may be recognized by its small size; the primaries of the 

 wing-coverts are of leaden-gray; speculum velvety purplish-black on 

 the outer half, the inner half rich green ; bordered in front with chestnut, 

 fawn or whitish tips of the greater coverts, behind by white tips of 

 the secondaries, interiorly with purplish-black stripes on the outer webs 

 of the lengthened secondaries. The head and upper neck of the male 

 are rich chestnut, blackening on the chin with a glossy green patch be- 

 hind each eye. There is a white crescent in front of the wing. The female 

 differs in the head markings, but those of the wing are the same. It is a 

 well-known and highly esteemed game bird. The nest is placed on the 

 ground, in a thick growth of grass, and is essentially the same as that of 

 the Blue-winged Teal. 



Hab. North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States, and migrating south to Honduras 

 and Cuba. 



613. Wood Duck; Summer Duck — aix sponsa. This is the most 

 beautiful of all our ducks ; in fact, no description can give a sufficient concep- 

 tion of the variety and lustre of its plumage. It is crested, the head irides- 

 cent green and purple, with parallel curved white superciliary and post-ocu- 

 lar stripes and a broad white throat-patch. The iris and edges of eyelids are 

 red, the feet orange with black claws. In the female the head is mostly 

 gray. A freshly-killed specimen has all the variegated tints to be seen in 

 the rain-bow. It is well-named Bridal Duck. This exquisite bird is 

 found in North America at large and especially the United States, breed- 

 ing throughout its range. It frequents the wooded portions of the country 

 near water. The nest is made in the hollow of decayed trees, often at 

 the depth of four to six feet. It is composed of twigs, weeds or grass, 

 warmly lined with the down from the breast of the bird. What is re- 

 markable about the entrance to the nest is, that it is often so small that it 

 would seem almost impossible for the bird to pass in and out. I have 

 seen the tree in which the nest was made situated a considerable distance 



