124 DUCK SHOOTING. 



migrations the blue-winged teal is found summering on 

 the Great Slave Lake, and Mr. Dall tells of having seen 

 it on the Yukon, and it has been reported from other 

 points in Alaska. It breeds also in Northern New Eng- 

 land, as well as near the prairie sloughs of some of the 

 States of the Central West. The nest is placed on the 

 ground, among reeds and grasses, and is usually, but 

 not always, near the water. It is lined with down from 

 the mother's breast, and when she leaves the nest she 

 covers the eggs with this down and over it places more 

 or less grass. The number of eggs is said to be from 

 eight to twelve. 



During the winter these birds reach Mexico and 

 Central America and are commonly found in Florida 

 and the Gulf States. They feed in great numbers in 

 the southern rice fields, where they are reported to be 

 caught in great numbers by means of traps set by the 

 negroes. Teal are abundant in the low country about 

 the mouth of the Mississippi, where they are known to 

 the Creoles as printannierre and autonnierre, according 

 to the season in which they are seen. 



The teal frequently travel in very large flocks, and the 

 speed with which they move and the closeness with 

 which they are huddled together have become proverbial 

 among gunners. They come up readily to decoys and 

 not infrequently a large flock may come in without 

 warning to a heedless gunner and drop down among 

 his stools before he sees them. When he stands up to 

 shoot, the teal leave the water as the mallard does, by a 

 single spring, and dart away in all directions, coming 



