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ANAS DISCORS 
southern regions it seems to go to considerable altitudes in winter. Carriker (1910) 
says that it is found in Costa Rica up to 5000 feet, and in Ecuador, in Riobamha, it 
has been taken at 3100 meters (Chubb, 1919). In Peru, at the extremity of its 
regular range, Mr. R. M. Beck took a specimen at Lake Junin, 12,900 feet. 
\V ARiNESS. This is certainly the tamest of American shoal-water ducks, and can 
be compared to the Ruddy Duck and the Wood or Carolina Duck in this respect. 
Not only is it a very easy bird to approach, but it is so sociable and gregarious that it 
comes to either live or wooden decoys without the least suspicion. Flight birds in 
early September are of course tamer than those on the wintering grounds. A trait 
which has brought them to the verge of extinction in the Northeast, is their habit of 
decoying again and again to the dead bodies of their comrades, so that it was no un- 
common thing for a whole flock to be wiped out by a single shooter. Small flocks of 
Blue-wings wintering on the Galapagos w'ere found to be a good deal more wary than 
the indigenous Galapagos Ducks (Gifford, 1913). It goes without saying that the 
great congregations of Blue-wings w'hich may be seen on any favorite autumn or 
wintering ground are far more able to take care of themselves than the little family 
parties of young birds formerly so common in New England. 
Daily Movements. This species is no more nocturnal than other surface- 
feeding ducks. 
Gait, Swimming, Diving. The Blue-wing is a moderately good walker, but does 
not differ essentially from related species. I have never known them to dive, even in 
captivity, unless greatly frightened; and even when wounded they are very indiffer- 
ent divers. In the Louisiana marshes I have frequently seen them perching on tree- 
trunks and roots in flooded places. They sometimes chose positions several feet 
above the surface of the w'ater and this habit is much more common than with the 
Green-wings. Characteristic of this species and common also to the Garganey is 
their habit of packing closely on the water, and this has been an important factor 
in accounting for the sadly reduced numbers in certain parts of their range. 
Flight. On the wing these birds are very swift and “Teal-like,” that is, the 
flight is with frequent change of direction. The single bird offers one of the best 
tests for the practiced marksman. Audubon’s description brings up such vivid 
recollections that I do not hesitate to quote him here: “When flying in flocks in 
clear sunny weather, the blue of their wings glistens like polished steel, so as to give 
them the most lively appearance; and while they are wheeling over the places in 
which they intend to alight, their wings being alternately thrown in the shade and 
exposed to the bright light, the glowing and varied lustre thus produced, at what- 
ever distance they may be, draws your eyes involuntarily toward them.” 
