rnn -.:.' / \ I\HI n r/ i/. 609 



TllK common M M.I.M:I>. nr \V UK lii K, now conies 1.,-foiv ,,, n n.,ii, . 



This N l>\ ii" in> -aiis din- uf the lea.st handsome <if its nil*-. tin- rich glossy green of the 

 and !! k. tin- -n.iw\ u liile collar. :ni<l tllf \.-l\H N.i.k of the odd little curly feathers ol 

 (In- lail. iri\ iitt; il :i |N.|.| :m<l -n ikiii:,' api*-arance. wliicli. Inn f. n its familial it \ . would receive 

 _i. . i admiration thai " ' | n-x-ul obtains h is the -t.n-k fr--m u ln,-h d.---. n.|.-.| ,,ui u, II 

 k HUM n d<.meMir Du.-k. 14. \\liii-h we are no much indebted for iis llesh and its eggs. 



Tin. MM. i \i:n (Ana* botchas). This familiar l>ird is nearly como|M>litan, and nearly 



everywhere dome*! icati i I' i- '.N ii-l !' i"U.Ji Hi-- -A li"l.- "! V.ilh \lii.-l i< ... 1. 1 .-.-, I in- -|.:i I in-l> 



thniii^liixit the United States, aa well UM farther mirth. It is very run- in New England In 

 id- Mi--.. mi ragtoii ;' is vcr\ ;il)Ulidanl |)III!|IL; I|M- fall iniiri-iiiini. Mallard^ an-\.T\ u 

 f-|. icin. us ainoiiu' <>tlu-r I'inls. Tin- f.-inal.- is iii*tiiu. r uNn-d l>\ iM-int: smalli-r than tin- niali-. and 

 in having the several ornaniontal ]Mirtions less hrilliair In .N.-ith Curuliiia this species is 

 alnmdaiit, and in the lial-it <>f \i-iiiu^ the rioe fielda to feed. 



BLACK MALLARD (Ana* obtrura). This is known alon^ tin- coaHt a.s Rlnrk Dnck, and 

 <>l-\vtire M Dusky, from its uniformly darker plumage. Ii is the most nmntTous and most 

 ooniinoii of its triU-, on our coast. It U only partial!} mi.i:nit>ry. Many remain during the 

 siiuimei and l>n -i in - i i i. - i. i |>la< - in marshes, (M N lit- M i-l:md l-.-a<-li.-~. VaM mini- 

 ben, however, migrate in>nli\\anl on the approach of spring. Like the Mallanl, it rarely <li\>-s 

 for fool, f^tling on the tlat.s. lut it swim-- and tli.-s with great velocity. This Duck is two 

 feet in length, and thn-- fi--t to inches in extent of wing. There is little difference between 

 the sexes; the male is rather larger, and the plumage somewhat brighter. 



A species, called Fi" Kin \ l"-k* I>i IK, is found in the (hilf States. 



TIIK pretty little TK.M. is the smallest and one of the most valuable of the European 

 I'IP k-. it.s tl -', ! in_ p.-. uliarlj dfllteli and it- numU-i- pli-ntifnl 



It arrives on the northern shores about SeptemU-r. >-oming over in large flocks, and 

 remains there until the commencement of its breeding season. Some few birds, hose\. i. 

 remain in northern countries throughout the year. Lake other Ducks, it is found on lakes, 

 londs, and in marshy places, choosing the last-mentioned localities for its home. The nest of 

 the Teal is made of a large heap of leaves, grasses, and sedges, lined with do\vn and feathers. 

 The number of eggs is about .-i_-lii or ten. and their color is buffy-white. The Teal is caught 

 in decoys together with the mallard and other Ducks. 



BLI T K-WIXOED TEAL (Qutrqutdvla dltcort). This beautiful little Duck inhabits North 

 America, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, and the Pan tic coast in Alaska; and in the 

 West Indies, Mexico, ami Central and South America to Equador. It is a straggler in Europe. 

 In the Missouri region it is almndant during the migrations, and probably breeds there. It is 

 the first of its triU- that returns to us in the autumn from its lireeding-places in the north. In 

 S-ptembcr it is abundant along the shores of Delaware, where it sits on the mud -flats, in num 

 >-rs so great, that the gunners often kill many at a shot It flies rapidly, and when it 

 alights, drops down suddenly like the snipe or woodcock. Its flesh is esteemed highly, Ix-ing 

 greatly improved after feeding some time among the reeds, when it becomes very fat. It 

 measures fourteen inches in length, and twenty-two in extent of wing. 



CINNAMON TEAL (Querquedula cyanaptera). This Teal inhabits South America, and 

 in North America from the Rocky Mountains to the Pariiic. northward to the Columbia 

 River. It is also found in Louisiana. It is called Red-breasted Teal in some quarters, and 

 differs little from the other species in habits. 



THE GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Nettion carolinenti*) inhabits the whole of North America, 

 Mexico and Cuba, and breeds from the northern Imnlerof the. United States north ward. It 

 appears in the Missouri regionjn August, in vast numbers, covering the pools and water-courses. 



