BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 47 



head, going directly away, better save his shell ; still, if 

 he wants to experiment, he might try. Possibly the 

 bird will slack its speed and give the shot a chance to 

 catch up ; this being an event of so much uncertainty, 

 he had better not risk it, unless supplied with plenty of 

 shells. Being engaged in feeding, they pay but little 

 attention to the hunter, and rush along gulping down 

 their food as if their lives depended on its being done 

 hastily. 



It takes but a slight blow to kill them, and large num- 

 bers are frequently killed at the discharge of both bar- 

 rels. Feeding almost continuously, they are always in 

 excellent condition, tender, juicy, and all that one could 

 desire for the table. After one has been killed and 

 dressed for cooking should the discovery be made that 

 his ribs are not larded with at least a quarter of an inch 

 of fat, depend on it, he merited death, for he was dur- 

 ing life a sloth. 



No. 7 or 8 shot is the proper size. 



Anas Discors. This species measures about 14 inches 

 in length, and 22 inches in extent. The bill is long in 

 proportion, and of a dusky slate ; the front and upper 

 part of the head, black ; from the eye to the chin is a 

 large crescent of white ; the rest of the head and half of 

 the neck are of a dark slate, richly glossed with green 

 and violet ; remainder of the neck and breast black or 

 dusky, thickly marked with semi-circles of brownish 

 white, elegantly intersecting with each other ; belly, 

 pale brown, barred with dusky narrow lines ; sides 

 and vent the same tint spotted with oval marks of dusky ; 



