2-20 GREEN- WINGED TEAL. 



others of the same kind had been before. Pigeons, Starlings, Robins, 

 and other land-birds are often observed to do so ; while Curlews, Cormo- 

 rants, Plovers, Ducks and Geese, are similar in this respect. The first 

 object in view with such species is to remove from one part of the country 

 to another, as every one knows ; and as to reach a place of safety abun- 

 dantly supplied with food, is the next object, you may perhaps join me in 

 concluding, that, to the spot or district in which birds have once been 

 and spent a season, they are ever afterwards inclined to return. Well, 

 the Green- wings are known to follow each other in flocks, sometimes con- 

 sisting of a few families, sometimes of many hundred individuals, parti- 

 cularly in autumn, when old and young leave the north to avoid the 

 rigours of its dreary winter. In spring, again, many species both of land 

 and water birds perform their migrations, either singly or in smaller 

 groups, the males departing before the females, and in some cases the 

 young keeping by themselves, an arrangement perhaps intended for the 

 greater dispersion of the species. 



In Louisiana, the Green-winged Teal is named Sarcelle dWiver, while 

 the Blue-winged species bears the name of Sarcelle d'ete, although the lat- 

 ter remains only some weeks in that country after the departure of the 

 former. Its general name, however, is the " Green-wing ;"" and a poor 

 name in my opinion it is, for the bird has not more green on its wings 

 than several other species have. Indeed, very many birds are strangely 

 named, not less in pure Latin, than in English, French, and Dutch ; and 

 very many are every year receiving names still stranger than those they 

 bore. For my part, I am at present a kind of conservative, and adhere 

 to the old system until I see the mud raised up by the waders subside, 

 when I may probe my way with more chance of success. 



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 giz- 

 zards. The food of this bird being thus more select than that of most 

 other Ducks, its flesh is delicious, probably the best of any of its tribe ; 



