Green-Winged Teal 179 



for little baby Teal, and rare indeed must be the family all the members of 

 which survive to fly away to the South on the approach of autumn. 



John James Audubon, the illustrious American naturalist who just one 

 hundred years ago was in the midst of his most active field-work, thus sets 

 forth some of his observations regarding the life of this interesting bird: 



"The Green-winged Teal is a fresh-water bird, being rarely met with in 

 marine bays, creeks, or lagoons, where, however, it may sometimes spend a 

 few days. It is accordingly enabled to feed with its body half immersed, in 

 the manner of the Mallard and several other species, for which purpose it is 

 furnished with a comparatively long neck. Its food consists principally of the 

 seeds of grasses, which are collected either when floating or when still adhering 

 to their stalks, small acorns, fallen grapes or berries, as well as aquatic insects, 

 worms, and small snails. I have never found water lizards, leeches, fishes, or 

 even tadpoles in their gizzards. 



''The food of this bird being thus more select than that of most other Ducks, 

 its flesh is dehcious, probably the best of any of its tribe; and I would readily 

 agree with any epicure in saying, that when it has fed on wild oats at Green 

 Bay, or on soaked rice in the fields of Georgia and the Carolinas, for a few 

 weeks after its arrival in those countries, it is much superior to the Canvas- 

 back in tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Indeed, the Green-wing is as much 

 superior to the Canvas-back, as the European Quail is to the Capercailzie, or 

 Sora of the Delaware to the Scolopaceous Courlan of the Florida everglades. 



"On land, the Green- wing moves with more ease and grace than any other 

 species with which I am acquainted, excepting our beautiful Wood Duck. It 

 can run at a good rate, without entangling its webbed feet, as many others do ; 

 and in this, too, there is a marked difference between fresh- water and salt-water 

 Ducks, as one may very readily perceive. On the water, also, it moves with 

 great ease, at times with considerable rapidity, and when not severely wounded, 

 is able to dive in a very creditable manner. On wing it has no rivals among 

 Ducks. Our two smaller Mergansers, however, are swifter, although they 

 exhibit none of the graceful movements every now and then shown by the 

 Green-wings, when coursing in the air over and around a pond, a river, or a 

 large wet savannah. They rise from the water at a single spring, and so 

 swiftly, too, that none but an expert marksman need attempt to shoot them, 

 if when starting they are many yards distant. While feeding, they proceed in 

 a close body along the shores, or wherever the water is so shallow that they 

 can reach the bottom with ease. 



"In savannahs or watery fields intersected by dry ridges, they remove from 

 one pool to another on foot, unless the distance is considerable ; and in effecting 

 the transit, they run so huddled together, as to enable a gunner to make great 

 havoc among them. When the cravings of hunger are satisfied, they retire to 

 some clean part of the shore, or a sand-bar, where they rest in perfect harmony 

 each individual composing its dress and afterwards, with wings slightly droop- 



