THE BIRD BOOK 



137. BALDPATE. Mareca americana. 



Range. North America, breeding in the in- 

 terior from Texas north to Hudson Bay. 



The Baldpate (so-called because of the white 

 3rown) 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, 



Baldpate 

 Green-winged Teal 



Creamy white 



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 eggs. Nest 

 of grass and down on ground in a grassy meadow. 

 Collector, E. S. Bryant. 



[138.] EUROPEAN TEAL. Nettion crecca. 



An old world species that is casually found on 

 both coasts of America. 



139. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Nettion carolinense. 



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 



/ ^^^^^^^^P^" 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 

 -as;,^ brooks. Nest of grass and weeds, lined with down from the bird. Eggs buffy, 



Buff 



four to ten in number. Size 1.85 x 1.25. 



92 



