THE GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 



HANDSOME little Duck 

 indeed is this, well known 

 to sportsmen, and very 

 abundant throughout 

 North America. It is 

 migratory in its habits, and nests from 

 Minnesota and New Brunswick north- 

 ward, returning southward in winter 

 to Central America and Cuba. 



The green wing is commonly found 

 in small flocks along the edges of 

 shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely 

 upon seeds of grasses, small acorns, 

 fallen grapes or berries, as well as 

 aquatic insects, worms, and small snails. 

 In their search for acorns these ducks 

 are often found quite a distance from 

 the water, in exposed situations feeding 

 largely in the night, resting during 

 the day upon bogs or small bare spots, 

 closely surrounded and hidden by 

 reeds and grasses. 



On land this Duck moves with more 

 ease and grace than any other of its 

 species except the Wood Duck, and it 

 can run with considerable speed. In 

 the water also it moves with great 

 ease and rapidity-, and on the wing it 

 is one of the swiftest of its tribe. From 

 the water it rises with a single spring 

 and so swiftly that it can be struck 

 only by a very expert marksman ; 

 when wounded it dives readily. 



As the Teal is more particular in 

 the selection of its food than are most 

 Ducks, its flesh, in consequence, is very 

 delicious. Audubon says that when 

 this bird has fed on wild oats at Green 

 Bay, or soaked rice in the fields of 

 Georgia or Carolina, it is much supe- 

 rior to the Canvas back in tenderness, 

 juiciness, and flavor. 



G. Arnold, in the Nidologist^ says 

 while traveling through the northwest 

 he was surprised to see the number of 

 Ducks and other wild fowl in close 

 proximity to the railway tracks. He 

 found a number of Teal nests with- 



in four feet of the rails of the Canad- 

 ian Pacific in Manitoba. The warm, 

 sun-exposed banks along the railway 

 tracks, shrouded and covered with 

 thick grass, afford a very fair pro- 

 tection for the nests and eggs from 

 water and marauders of every kind. 

 As the section men seldom disturbed 

 them not being collectors the birds 

 soon learned to trust them and would 

 sit on their nests by the hour while the 

 men worked within a few feet of them. 



The green-winged Teal is essentially 

 a fresh -water bird, rarely being met with 

 near the sea. Its migrations are over 

 the land and not along the sea shore. 

 It has been seen to associate with the 

 Ducks in a farmer's yard or pond and 

 to come into the barnyard with tame 

 fowls and share the corn thrown out 

 for food. 



The nests of the Teal are built upon 

 the ground, generally in dry tufts of 

 grass and often quite a distance from 

 the water. They are made of grass, 

 and weeds, etc., and lined with down. 

 In Colorado under a sage brush, a nest 

 was found which had been scooped in 

 the sand and lined warmly with down 

 evidently taken from the bird's own 

 breast, which was plucked nearly bare. 

 This nest contained ten eggs. 



The number of eggs, of a pale buft 

 color, is usually from eight to twelve, 

 though frequently sixteen or eighteen 

 have been found. It is far more pro- 

 lific than any of the Ducks resorting 

 to Hudson's Bay, and Mr. Hearn says 

 he has seen -the old ones swimming at 

 the head of seventeen young when the 

 latter were not much larger than wal- 

 nuts. 



In autumn the males usually keep 

 in separate flocks from the females 

 and young. Their notes are faint and 

 piping and their wings make a loud 

 whistling during flight. 



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