72 



North American Birds Eggs. 



137. Baldpate. Marcr.a nmericana. 



-North America, breeding in tlie interior from Texas nortli to Hudson 



Range. 

 Bay. 



The Baldpate (so-called because of 

 the white crown) or American Widgeon 

 is a handsomely marked bird and is 

 regarded as a great table delicacy. The 

 male birds cannot be mistaken for any 

 other species because of the white 

 crown, wing coverts and underparts 

 and the broad green stripe, back of the 

 eye. They breed locally in many parts 

 of the countrj', building their nests of 

 grass and weeds, neatly lined with 

 feathers, on the ground in marshes. 

 They lay from six to twelve creamy 

 eggs. Size 2.15 x 1.50. Data. — Lac 

 Aux Morts, North Dakota. Eight 

 eggs. Nest of grass and down on 

 ground in a grassy meadow. Collector, E. S. Bryant 



[Creamy wbitL' 



[138.] European Green-winged Teal. Ncftion rrcrca. 



An old world species that is casually found on both coasts of America. 

 139. Green-winged Teal. Nettion carolincnsis. 



Range.— Whole of North America, 

 breeding chiefly north of the United 

 States. 



A small, handsome species, the male of 



which can readily be identified by the 



reddish brown head and neck, with the 



large green patch behind each ear ; length 



fourteen inches. Green-winged Teals are 



our smallest representative of the Duck 



family. They are eagerly sought by 



sportsmen, both because of their beauty 



and the excellence of their flesh. They 



(ji|,ff ] are among the most common of Ducks in 



the interior, where they nest generally in 



tufts of grass along ponds, lakes or brooks. Nest of grass and weeds, lined 



with down from the bird. Eggs buffy, four to ten in number. Size 1.85 x 1.25. 



140. Blue-winged Teal. QucrquaJulo (IhcorK. 



Range.— North America, breeding from northern United States northward; 

 rare on the Pacific coast. 



Anpther small species, known by the blue wing coverts and the white crescent 

 in front of eye. They nest in the same localities with the preceding species, 

 placing their nest of grass and weeds on the ground in meadows near water. 

 Eggs buffy white. Six to twelve in number. Size 1.1)0 x 1.80. 



