ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 1 69 



Genns Nettion Kaup. 



34. (139). A' cttiou caro/incnsis {Cim€[.) • Green-winged Teal. 

 This little Teal is reported by all observers who furnished lists 



as either a common or abundant migrant. It is not known to 

 nest in the state, breeding in general north of the United States 

 boundary. 



"Like the Mallard, this is a hardy species, and remains to winter 

 just as far north as open water extends. ... In the fall of 1884 

 the bulk arrived at Des Moines October 25, and the last left there 

 November 17. In the spring of 1885 the record of its northern 

 migration was too irregular to be of much value. It was recorded 

 from Des Moines March 18; Heron Lake, Minn., March 26. In 

 the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Des Moines vSept. 10. None 

 was seen at Des Moines after Nov. 4" (Cooke, Bird Migr. in Miss. 

 \'al.). On Feb. 29, 1896, I shot a male specimen which was sit- 

 ting with two others on the ice in Lime Creek just south of Forest 

 City, in Hancock county — my earliest record for that localit}'. 



The habits of the Green-winged Teal are very similar to those 

 of the other river ducks. 



Genus Querouedula Stephens. 



35. (140). Oucrqucdida discors (Linn.). Blue-winged Teal. 

 The Blue-winged Teal is probably the commonest of the species 



of ducks which are found in Iowa. Both sexes may be recog- 

 nized by the patch of clear grayish blue on the wing coverts. It 

 occurs abundantly as a migrant in all parts of the state, arriving 

 somewhat later in the spring than the bulk of the ducks, seldom 

 appearing in northern Iowa before April i, and passing to the 

 south before the great flights arrive from the north, usually before 

 the last of September. It nests rather commonl}^ in various local- 

 ities in the state, wherever sloughs or the marshy borders of ponds 

 render them reasonably free from molestation. 



The young of this species are hatched about the middle of June 

 and the downy little ducks leave the nest as soon as the shell is 

 off their backs. Fresh eggs may be found from the middle to the 

 last of May, although an accident to the first set may cause a 

 second set to be deposited later in the season. On June 12, 1894, 

 I procured a set of ten fresh eggs which were taken the day 



