72 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



137. Baldpate. Mareca americana. 



Range. North America, breeding in the interior from Texas north to, Hudson 

 Bay. 



The Baldpate (so-called because of 

 the white crown) or American Widgeon 

 is a handsomely marked bird and is 

 regarded as a great table delicacy. The 

 male birds cannot be mistaken for any 

 other species because of the white 

 crown, wing coverts and underparts 

 and the broad green stripe, back of the 

 eye. They breed locally in many parts 

 of the country, building their nests of 

 grass and weeds, neatly lined with 

 feathers, on the ground in marshes. 

 They lay from six to twelve creamy 

 eggs. Size 2.15 x 1.50. Data. Lac 

 Aux Morts, North Dakota. Eight [Creamy white.] 



eggs. Nest of grass and 

 ground in a grassy meadow. 



down on 



Collector, E. S. Bryant. 



[138.] European Green-winged Teal. Nettion crecca. 



An old world species that is casually found on both coasts of America. 

 139. Green-winged Teal. Nettion car ollnensls. 



Range. Whole of North America, 

 breeding chiefly north of the United 

 States. 



A small, handsome species, the male of 

 which can readily be identified by the 

 reddish brown head and neck, with the 

 large green patch behind each ear ; length 

 fourteen inches. Green-winged Teals are 

 our smallest representative of the Duck 

 family. They are eagerly sought by 

 sportsmen, both because of their beauty 

 and the excellence of their flesh. They 

 are among the most common of Ducks in 

 the interior, where they nest generally in 

 tufts of grass along ponds, lakes or brooks. Nest of grass and weeds, lined 

 with down from the bird. Eggs buffy, four to ten in number. Size 1.85 x 1.25. 



[Buff.] 



140. Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors. 



Range. North America, breeding from northern United States northward ; 

 rare on the Pacific coast. 



Another small species, known by the blue wing coverts and the white crescent 

 in front of eye. They nest in the same localities with the preceding species, 

 placing their nest of grass and weeds on the ground in meadows near water. 

 Eggs buffy white. Six to twelve in number. Size 1.90 x 1.30. 



