BLUE-WINGED DUCK. 241 



method, he can sometimes approach within twenty yards 

 of the flock, among which he generally makes great 

 slaughter. They fly rapidly ; and when they ahght, 

 they drop down suddenly among the reeds, or on the 

 mud, like the snipe or woodcock. They feed chiefly 

 upon seeds ; and are very fond of those of the reeds^ 

 and of wild oats. Catesby observes, that they come 

 into Carolina in August, and feed on the rice, remaining 

 there till October ; and when the rice fails, they attack 

 the wild oats. This writer also adds, that they chiefly 

 frequent the ponds and fresh waters. Their flesh is ex- 

 cellent : and after their living, for a short time, among 

 the reeds or rice plantations, they become very fat. As 

 the first frosts come on, they proceed to the south ; for 

 their constitution seems delicate, and very susceptible of 

 cold. It appears, how^ever*, that Dr. Richardson met 

 with them on the banks of the Saskatchewan, in the month 

 of June, where they were very plentiful ; but they were 

 not observed by the officers of the expedition further 

 north than the 58th parallel. They abound, as "Vl^ilson 

 says, in the inundated 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 wdth 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 Pennsylvannia for the north ; but make little 

 stay at that season. On the Hudson River, opposite the 

 Katskill Mountains, they are very numerous. In all 

 localities it appears quite a river bird, for it rarely 

 visits the sea shore. We have received specimens from 

 the lakes of Mexico, which seem to be the only authen- 

 ticated limits of its southern range. 



The male has the upper plumage on the head, and 

 under tail covers, brownish black, with a very conspi- 

 cuous broad white crescent-shaped spot from the fore- 

 head to the chin, bordered all round with black : sides of 



* North. Zool. ii. 43n. -14+. 

 It 



