130 WATER FOWL. 



closely without showing any especial alarm, and it always 

 came boldly in to the decoys, and, if permitted, settled 

 among them in full confidence, and began to swim about 

 its supposed brethren quite at home and contented. 

 When on the water this Teal swims with much buoyancy, 

 and the flocks, like those of the Green-winged Teal, are 

 compacted together so closely that the members would 

 seem to be in each other's way as they floated along. In 

 February the movement toward northern climes begins, 

 and, like all Ducks at this season, they are poor in flesh 

 and should never be shot. The male has assumed the 

 summer dress, one of the most beauj:iful among the Duck 

 tribe, and the pure white crescent before the eye makes 

 him very conspicuous as he paddles about the ponds and 

 inlets, or wanders over the muddy bars in quest of food. 

 Like its relatives, the Blue-winged Teal walks easily and 

 well, and is able even to run quite rapidly. 



QUERQUEDULA DISCO RS. 



Geographical Distribution.— ^ox\.\\ America, but chiefly in 

 the eastern portion; Alaska, and south to the West Indies, and 

 northern South America. Occasional in California. Breeds 

 from Kansas northward. 



Adult Male. — Top of head, black, feathers edged with 

 ochraceous. Chin and space along base of bill, black, A large 

 crescent-shaped band, white edged with black, goes from the 

 forehead in front of the eye to the throat. Rest of head and 

 neck, dull plumbeous, with a metallic purple gloss on the occi- 

 put. Back, dusky, with U-shaped bars of buff. Long scapulars, 

 greenish black, with a central stripe of buff. Lesser wing 

 coverts and outer webs of some scapulars, pale blue. Greater 

 coverts, dusky, with white tips forming a bar in front of the 

 speculum, which is metallic grass green. Lower back, upper 

 tail coverts, and tail, dusky, feathers of the last two margined 

 with whitish. A white patch on each side of the tail. Entire 

 under parts and sides, reddish buff, inclined to pale chestnut on 



