the ocean as they take their midday rest on its bosom 

 a mile or so beyond the surf. They breed on the moun- 

 tain lakes and streams all along the Coast from Mexico 

 north. 



The widgeon begins its migrations early in the fall 

 and great numbers find their way as far south as the 

 Coast marshes and lower lakes of Mexico. They feed 

 largely on the plains and frequent the fields in search 

 of grain. In migrating or flying from pond to pond 

 they usually go in quite large flocks. 



Color Male Head, pinkish white on top, with a 

 greenish streak from the eye back to the ociput; be- 

 low this the head and neck are speckled with black 

 and white; back and wing-coverts, gray with fine mark- 

 ings of black; breast, a light brick red with a purplish 

 cast; speculum, black and green. Axillars, white with 

 dark shafts. 



Female The female resembles the male in all but 

 the green on the head and the reddish color of the 

 breast. 



Nest and Eggs The nest is generally built in some 

 tuft of grass or thick weeds near some water's edge. 

 The eggs average about a dozen and are of very light 

 brownish white. 



Measurements Total length, 18 inches; wing 9%, 

 and bill, 1%. 



GREEN-WINGED TEAL 



(Anas carolinensis) 



The green-winged teal is another variety that is very 

 plentiful on the Coast, breeding in great numbers on 

 our mountain lakes and along the streams from Mexico 

 to Alaska, and even to considerable extent on the lower 

 marshes, especially from central California north. While 

 many of these are killed on the salt marshes and tide 

 lands, they are more generally frequenters of the in- 

 land ponds and overflows. Nesting late and maturing 

 early, they are both a late and early duck on our shoot- 

 ing grounds, and remain constantly with us during the 

 whole winter. Shooting on a pass over which the teal 

 are flying from one pond to another furnishes about the 

 finest sport of the duck shooter's life. In such cases 

 they come in small flocks, and single birds must be 

 selected; being a small mark and very rapid flyers they 

 require a good lead and quick work. In fact, a brace 

 of green-winged teal with a pressing engagement at 



