ANAS DISCORS. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



This little Duck is among the first of the Water Fowl that 

 visit the shores of the Delaware and Chesapeake from the far 

 regions of the North. They arrive among us in September, 

 and remain feedinsr along the fresh-water shores and mud-flats 

 until driven further South by the chilling frosts of these regions, 

 as they are a very tender Bird, and spend the most of their 

 time in parts where the weather is mild. Blue- Winged Teal 

 appear to be much less cunning than most other varieties of 

 Wild Fowl, as it is not difficult to approach them in a boat or 

 under cover of any simple device. 



The Shooters on the Delaware kill great numbers from the 

 reeds, over Stool-Ducks set out on the mud ; they stool without 

 difficulty, and drop down among the Decoys and go to eating as 

 if they were surrounded by busy companions like themselves. 



They stool better if the Decoys are set in the mud than if in 

 the water, and in this respect differ from every other Duck. 



They are fond of the seeds of the wild oats, and become very 

 fat after feeding on them for a short time. In the South they 

 also become very fat, and are considered most excellent eating ; 

 great numbers are shot as well as caught on the rice-fields in 

 traps set by the Negroes. 



