604 . REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



ward to breed, and it nests in some numbers as far southward 

 as northern Indiana. Both it and the Green-wing Teal 

 often nest at quite a distance from the water. The nest of both 

 Teals is made upon the ground of grass and reeds, lined with down 

 and feathers. It is said that the female covers the eggs with down 

 when she leaves the nest. 



Usually the Blue- wing Teal is not seen in spring until after the first 

 of April. Ridgway notes it as being found in Illinois all the year. 

 Prof. Cooke says it winters in southern Illinois. The earliest date 

 at which I have seen it at Brookville is April 9 (1887). Occasionally, 

 however, they appear earlier. The spring of 1892 seems to have been 

 such a season. Some were shot on English Lake March 24 (Deane). 

 Mr. Jerome Trombley reported two that year at Petersburg, Mich., 

 March 20. Several others were noted in southern Michigan within the 

 succeeding ten days. This date is earlier than any I have in Indiana. 



Through the latter part of April they may be seen in suitable places 

 in some numbers. Then they go north, where most of them breed. 

 I have seen them at Brookville May 1 (1884). 



Mr. Deane says they were abundant on English Lake May 4, 1890, 

 and Prof. Evermann notes them as common on Lake Maxinkuckee 

 May 11, 1885 (B. N. 0. C., Oct., 1888, p. 346). After May 1 they may 

 usually be noted in pairs, and toward the latter part of the month, and 

 in June, nests with eggs may be found. A good many of these ducks 

 remain through the summer on the Kankakee River, and I have no 

 doubt that it breeds there much more commonly than we know, yet 

 the numbers are growing less and less each year. In 1890, Mr. Deane 

 tells me, a good many remained at English Lake and bred. Several 

 nests were found. They were quite numerous at the same place August 

 8, 1897. Evidently they were birds bred in that vicinity (Deane). Mr. J. 

 G. Parker, Jr., says a few pairs breed every year at Kouts, Porter County, 

 and Liverpool, Lake County. It is reported as breeding in Lake 

 County by Mr. C. E. Aiken. Mr. Robert Ridgway informs me of its 

 breeding in Knox County and Gibson County. Mr. E. W. Nelson notes 

 a nest of this species, found in Cook County, 111., containing fourteen 

 eggs (Birds of N". E. 111., p. 140). In July they begin to collect into 

 flocks of twenty to thirty individuals. During the early part of Sep- 

 tember they begin to return from the north. The numbers increase 

 as the month wears awa} 7 ", until they become very numerous. They 

 then afford good shooting, as many as 75 to 100 being killed by a 

 party in a day. Late in September and early in October they leave 

 the region of the Kankakee for the south. In 1886 the last of this 

 species was killed at English Lake, on October 20. We expect them 



