318 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



rice fields in the southern states, where vast numbers are taken 

 in traps placed on small dry eminences that here and there rise 

 above the water. These places are strewed with rice, and by 

 the common contrivance called a figure, four, they are caught 

 alive in hollow traps. In the month of April they pass through 

 Pennsylvania for the north; but make little stay at that season. 

 I have observed them numerous on the Hudson opposite to the 

 Kaatskill mountains. They rarely visit the seashore. 



This species measures about fourteen inches in length, and 

 twenty-two inches in extent; the bill is long in proportion, and 

 of a dark dusky slate; the front and upper part of the head are 

 black, from the eye to the chin is a large crescent of white, the 

 rest of the head and half of the neck is of a dark slate richly 

 glossed with green and violet, remainder of the neck and breast 

 is black or dusky, thickly marked with semicircles of brown- 

 ish white, elegantly intersecting each other; belly pale brown, 

 barred with dusky, in narrow lines; sides and vent the same 

 tint, spotted with oval marks of dusky; flanks elegantly waved 

 with large semicircles of pale brown; sides of the vent pure 

 white; under tail coverts black; back deep brownish black, each 

 feather waved with large semi-ovals of brownish white; lesser 

 wing coverts a bright light blue; primaries dusky brown; se- 

 condaries black; speculum or beauty spot, rich green, tertials 

 edged with black or light, blue, and streaked down their mid- 

 dle with white; the tail, which is pointed, extends two inches 

 beyond the wings; legs and feet yellow, the latter very small; 

 the two crescents of white before the eyes meet on the throat. 

 The female differs in having the head and neck of a dull dusky 

 slate instead of the rich violet of the male, the hind head is also 

 whitish. The wavings on the back and lower parts more indis- 

 tinct; wing nearly the same in both. 



