774 THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 
the ludicrous manner common to all the pond and river ducks. Literally 
standing on their heads, with only the lower half of the body above water, 
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 Washington is fortunate in being very liberally supplied with 
this representative of the Teal Family. During fall, winter, and spring, it is 
one of our commonest ducks, arriving from the North in large numbers early 
in October. By the first of April nearly all have left again for the breeding 
grounds in the North; but occasional flocks are seen so early in the fall that it 
is fair to speculate upon the possibility of a few pairs remaining to rear their 
young within the borders of our State. 
The only call note of the Teal I have ever heard is a miniature “quack,” 
and this is given only by the female. It is similar to the call of the Mallard, 
but of course, is constructed on a very much smaller scale. 
Green-winged Teals are prime favorites with sportsmen on account of 
their invariable fitness for the table, for their difficulty as marks on the wing, 
and for their readiness to come in to a decoy. This last trait only too often 
leads to their undoing, for they are so sociably inclined that, when flying 
singly or in small flocks, they are always ready to pay a visit to any kind of 
ducks or geese, be they feathered or wooden. 
J. H. Bow es. 
No. 311. 
BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 
YAN ©. U. No. 140. Querquedula discors (Linn.). 
Description.—Adult male: Forehead and crown (narrowly) 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 doves); fore-neck and entire underparts 
to crissum, including lengthened feathers of sides (nearly meeting across back 
when wings are folded) purplish-vinaceous or purplish-chestnut, heaviest on 
breast, paling laterally, spotted on crop and sides, and barred on breast, belly, 
and longer flank feathers, with blackish; upper back and scapulars greenish fus- 
cous, with narrow and elongated V-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 Nettion carolinensis, more “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. Adult female (and male in summer): Wing substantially 
as before, or greater coverts not so extensively white-tipped ; no other indication 
