THE BIRDS OF SPRINGFIELD AND VICINITY. 9 



selves. They are apparently very fond of corn, and when 

 14 baited " on that grain, are loth to proceed on their journey. 



133. Anas Obscura Gmel. BLACK DUCK. Abundant 

 in spring and autumn; a few spend the winter with us, and 

 can usually be found in the vicinity of the south branch of 

 Mill river, in Hampden and Wilbraham, from December until 

 March. As the ice closes the ponds and forms along the banks 

 of the Connecticut river, the great body retire, and, even if the 

 winter is open, do not return until spring. A few breed regu- 

 larly in the ponds in the western part of this section and rarely 

 in the river towns. In July of 1898, a brood nearly grown 

 appeared in Forest Park in Springfield, and associated and fed 

 with the domestic ducks there, and becoming quite tame they 

 w T ere finally captured alive and taken into winter quarters; a 

 few of them still remain in the park. 



135. Chaulelasmus strepera (I/inn.). GADWALL. 



Accidental visitor; there are two specimens in the Museum in 



Springfield, that were taken here many years ago. (See Cata- 

 logue of the Birds Found in Springfield.) 



137. Mareca americana (Gmel.). BALDPATE. A 

 not very common, but regular spring and fall 'visitant; in the 

 autumn of 1884, they were fairly abundant here. 



139. Nettion carolinensis (Gmel.). GREEN-WINGED 

 TEAL. A not uncommon spring and autumn migrant, but less 

 numerous than the Blue-winged Teal. 



140. Querquedula discors (I/inn.). BLUE- WINGED 

 TEAL. A common autumn but a rare spring visitor; in the 

 fall of 1885, it was abundant. I have seen it here repeat- 

 edly in mid-summer, and once I observed a flock in the river 

 about the twentieth of August. One of the specimens in the 

 Museum at Springfield was taken here the last day of May; I 

 have no further evidence of their breeding here, but there is no 

 doubt that at one time they did. 



