6 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



In Lon„' Island, according to Giraud, many postpone their departure until quite late 

 in the winter. Associated usually in flocks, they frequent the streams and ponds, 

 where they feed on insects and tender i)lants. In the earlier parts of the season they 

 sometimes visit the ponds on the beach, although they more generally confine them- 

 selves to creeks and riill-ponds. At the South — where during the winter they are 

 very abundant — they resort to the rice-fields in company with the Mallard. Their 

 flesh is very highly esteemed, being tender and juicy, and always commands a high 

 price in the markets of large cities. 



This Duck is an occasional autumnal visitant in Bermuda, where, however, it is 

 much more common in some years than in others. It is also spoken of by Dr. Bryant 

 as being common in the Bahamas. 



It feeds much at night, as indeed most of the fresh-water Ducks do when they 

 cannot witli safety seek their food along the shores by day. They live on plants, 

 seeds, and insects. In autumn the males usually keep in separate fiocks from the 

 females and young. Their notes are rather faint and piping, and their wings make a 

 loud whistling during flight. 



Mr. MacFarlane found this sjiecies breeding near Fort Anderson. The nest was 

 composed of feathers and down, and placed in a depression on a dry piece of ground. 



Mr. Robert Kennicott, in his notes on this species, states that it is very rare on the 

 Upper Yukon lliver, although he found it abundant in Oregon and in Washington 

 Territory, and throughout British America as far north as latitude 70° ; but he did 

 not see it anywhere in the Mackenzie Region in any considerable abundance. As it 

 is more commoi in the Atlantic States than in the valley of the Mississippi, the 

 main body breed more toward the northeast, and breed beyond the limits of the 

 United States in the region of Hudson's Bay. Though arriving in this country 

 among the earliest of the migrating Ducks, this species is quite late in leiiving the 

 Yukon and the Mackenzie. Mr. Kennicott saw it October 2 at Fort Liard. The 

 nests fouiul by hini were in nearly open ground, among moss, and generally far from 

 w ater. In one instance he saw the nest of this Duck at the foot of a small spruce in 

 a mossy, half-barren, small dry plain, and at least forty rods from water. This nest 

 was a simple deju'ession in the moss, but thickly lined with down, and well protected 

 by the overhanging branches of the spruce. The female fluttered slowly off along 

 the ground at his approach, and the nest was found to contain eight eggs. According 

 to Mr. Dall nests of this species frequently have from sixteen to eighteen eggs. 



Audubon says that tlu', food of the Green-winged Teal consists principally of the 

 seeds of grasses — which are collected when floating, or while still adhering to their 

 stalks — small acorns, fallen grapes or berries, as well as aquatic insects, worms, and 

 small snails. It is much more particular in the selection of its food than are most 

 Ducks, and its flesh is therefore delicious, and probably better than that of any other 

 ot the Duck tribe. Audubon adds that when this bird has fed on Avild oats at Green 

 Bay, or soaked rice in the fields of Georgia or Carolina, it is much superior to the 

 Canvas-back in tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. 



On land it moves with more grace and ease than any other species except the 

 Wood Duck, and it can run with considerable speed without its feet becoming entan- 

 gled. In the water also it moves with great ease and rapidity, and on the wing it is 

 one of the swiftest of its tribe. It rises from the Avater with a single spring, and so 

 swiff ■• that it can only be hit by a very expert marksman; and it also dives readily 

 when wounded. This is a fresh-water bird, and it is very rarely met with near the 

 sea. Its migrations are over the land, and not along the sea-shore. 



This Duck moves northward from Louisiana early in March, but remains nearly 



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