BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 319 



and insects which dwell in or near waters ; and I have seen 

 a fine male whose stomach was wholly filled with a mass of the 

 small coleoptera, called Donatias, which are seen so nimbly 

 flying over or resting on the leaves of the pond-lily. These 

 birds are therefore very alert in quest of their prey, or they 

 never could capture these wary insects. They are not uncom- 

 mon in the markets of the Eastern and Middle States, and 

 are justly esteemed as food. 



Wood Ducks have sometimes been tamed, and soon be- 

 come familiar. They have even been so far domesticated 

 as to run about at large in the barn-yard like ordinary fowls. 

 In France they have also been acclimated and tamed, and 

 have bred in this condition. 



The Wood Duck breeds from the Middle States to the lower fur 

 countries, — latitude 60° being the probable limit of its northern 

 range, — and winters in the Southern States. It is common in New 

 England, and rare in Manitoba. 



BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



Anas discors. 



Char. Back mottled reddish brown, black, and buff ; forehead, crown, 

 and throat dark lead color ; cheeks with tinge of lavender and a white, 

 crescentic patch between the eyes and bill ; shoulders sky blue ; wiiig. 

 patch green, bordered with white ; under parts pale reddish buff", more or 

 less spotted with dusky ; bill black ; legs yellowish. The female is mot- 

 tled dull brown and buff, and has an indistinct patch on the cheeks. 

 Length about i5j^ inches. 



Nest. Amid a tuft of rank grass, usually in a wet meadow on the 

 marshy margin of a pond ; made of grass and weed-stems and lined with 

 feathers. 



Eggs. 6-12 ; pale buff or ivory white, sometimes with a tinge of green 

 when fresh; average size 1.85 X 1.30. 



The Blue-winged Teal, according to the season, inhabits 

 every part of the American continent, from the plains of the 

 Saskatchewan and the 58th parallel to Guiana and the West 

 Indies. The breeding-place of these birds is, however, to the 



