NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 81 



139. GREEN- WINGED TEAL. Anas carolinensis Gmel. Geog. Dist. North 

 America, migrating south to Honduras and Cuba. 



This handsome little Duck is exceedingly abundant throughout North America. 

 It breeds from the northern borders of the United States northward to Greenland arid 

 Alaska. During the spring and fall migrations it is one of the most abundant of 

 water fowl, frequenting the small brooks and ponds as well as the larger waters. 

 It may be recognized by its small size; the primaries of the wing-covets are of 

 leaden-gray; speculum velvety purplish-black on the outer half, the inner half rich 

 green; bordered in front with chestnut, fawn or whitish tips of the greater coverts, 

 behind by white tips of the secondaries, interiorly with purplish-black stripes on 

 the outer webs of the lengthened secondaries. The head and upper neck of the 

 male are rich chestnut, blackening on the chin, with a glossy green patch behind each 

 eye. There is a white crescent in front of the wing. The female differs in the head 

 markings, but those of the wing are the same. It is a well-known and highly es- 

 teemed game bird. The nest is placed on the ground, in a thick growth of grass, 

 and is essentially the same as that of the Blue-winged Teal. The eggs are from 

 five to eight in number, greenish-buff in color, usually ovoidal in shape, sometimes 

 nearly oval, and vary in size from 1.73 to 1.90 long by 1.22 to 1.32 broad. t 



140. BLUE- WINGED TEAL. A was discors Linn. Geog. Dist. North Ameri- 

 ca, but chiefly the Eastern Province; north to Alaska and south to the West Indies 

 and Northern South America. 



A beautiful little duck, inhabiting North America in general, but chiefly the 

 eastern portions. During the breeding seasons it is found in the same localities 

 as the Green-wing, but is more abundant in the northern tier of States at that season 

 than the latter. This duck feeds chiefly upon vegetable matter, and its flesh is tender 

 and luscious. It may be known by its small size, blue wings and narrow bill. The 

 feet are yellowish. The male has a white, crescent-shaped spot in front of the eye. 

 The female is brown throughout, with the feathers edged with whitish which be- 

 comes prominent below. The nest is made on the ground, in a thick patch or tus- 

 sock of grass, usually in meadows, the border of ponds or streams and swampy 

 places. It is composed of soft pieces of grass and weeds, lined with down and feath- 

 ers from the breast of the bird. The eggs are greenish or buff, lighter in color than 

 those of the Green-winged Teal; they vary from ovate to ovoidal, and are sometimea 

 nearly oval in shape; six to ten and twelve in number, and vary in size from 1.30 to 

 1.35 broad by 1.90 to 1.95 long. 



141. CINNAMON TEAL. Anas cyanoptera Vieill. Geog. Dist. Western 

 America, from the Columbia River south to Chili, Patagonia and Falkland Islands; 

 east in North America to the Rocky Mountains; casual in the Mississippi Valley; 

 accidental in Ohio Davie. 



This pretty South American Teal is abundant in the United States west of the 

 Rocky Mountains, and breeds anywhere in this range; Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Cali- 

 fornia, Idaho, Oregon, etc. In the adult male the head, neck and under parts are 

 rich chestnut, the wing coverts are sky-blue, as in the Blue-winged Teal. The 

 speculum is green and is set between the white tips of the greater coverts and the 

 secondaries. Its habits on the whole do not differ from those of its well-known ally, 

 the Blue-wing. Mr. A. M. Shields regards it as common in the vicinity of Los An- 

 geles, where it breeds in great numbers; nesting in the first week of May. Its 

 favorite breeding places are in fields of tall grass or clover, in close proximity to 



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