Birds of Indiana. 603 



monly in the vicinity of Hudson's Bay and in Greenland. It nests 

 on the ground, often at some distance from the water. Toward the 

 latter part of September they begin to return from the north. They 

 were abundant on the marshes at English Lake September 25, 1889. 

 Mr. C. L. Cass noted them at Hillsdale, Mich., September 19, 1894. 

 They are usually much less numerous in fall than they are in spring. 

 The fall of 1892 they were unusually abundant. They remain among 

 the marshes and lakes until November, and often until the water is 

 closed by ice. They are often seen when all other marsh ducks have 

 left. 



In winter it is common in the lower Mississippi Valley, and in the 

 Gulf States. In the winter of 1879-80, I found it to be very abundant 

 on the lakes of the Valley of Mexico. 



Subgenus Qurr^ikdi i.a Stephens. 



*34. (UO). Anas discors Linn. 



Blue-wing Teal. 



Adult Male. — Head and neck blackish; darkest on the crown, usu- 

 ally with purplish iridescence; a white crescent in front of the eye; 

 under parts thickly dark spotted; wing coverts sky blue, the greater 

 white tipped; speculum green, white tipped; axillars and most under 

 wing coverts white; scapulars striped with tawny and blue, or dark 

 green; fore-back barred; rump and tail dark, plain; crissum black; bill 

 black; feet, dusky yellow. Adult Female. — With head and neck alto- 

 gether different; under parts much paler and obscurely spotted, but 

 known by the wing mark^. 



Length, 14.50-16.00; wing, 7.00-7.50; bill, 1.40-1.65; tarsus, 1.20- 

 1.30 



Eange. — North America chiefly, east of the Rocky Mountains. It 

 breeds in southern Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Winters in southern 

 Illinois and Virginia, southward to Ecuador. 



Nest, on ground in grass. Eggs. 6-14; white or buffy; size, variable, 

 average, 1.90 by 1.30. 



Common migrant, and locally summer resident. In many respects 

 the habits of this duck are directly the opposite of the last mentioned 

 species. It is most abundant in spring; this one is not common 

 at that season. It arrives in spring exceedingly early; this one 

 very late. In fall it remains late; this species arrives early, and 

 the bulk does not remain. It breeds far northward, and rarely 

 within the T'nited States. This species does not go so far north- 



