320 SWIMMERS. 



north and west ; they are particularly abundant as early as 

 August in the Territory of Michigan, and Mr. Say observed 

 them there on the 7 th of June, so that they probably breed in 

 the vicinity of the Great Lakes of the St. Lawrence as well as in 

 the remote interior of the Canadian fur countries. 



These Teal arrive in this vicinity and other parts of Massa- 

 chusetts near to the sea-coast early in September, and accord- 

 ing to Wilson are seen soon after on the muddy shores of the 

 Delaware, where they are often observed basking or hiding in 

 crowded companies close to the edge of the water, where they 

 can only be approached under cover. They fly out with rapid- 

 ity, and when they alight, drop down suddenly among the 

 reeds in the manner of the Snipe or Woodcock. As the first 

 frosts come on, they proceed to the south, and then abound in 

 the inundated rice-fields of the Southern States, where great 

 numbers are taken in traps placed on the small dry eminences 

 that here and there rise above the water, to which they are 

 decoyed with rice ; and by the common contrivance called a 

 Figure 4, they are taken alive in box-traps. In the month 

 of April they pass through Pennsylvania on their way to the 

 North, but make little stay at that season ; they are seen also 

 in the spring in the State of Missouri, and spread themselves 

 widely to breed throughout a great extent of the western and 

 northern wilderness. 



Though often contiguous to the sea, these birds have no pre- 

 dilection for visiting the shores, feeding chiefly on vegetables 

 and insects, and particularly on the wild rice which abounds in 

 the Northwestern lakes and sluggish streams. They are much 

 esteemed as game, and commonly become very fat. Their 

 note, which is somewhat like a diminutive quack, is uttered 

 low aiid rather rapidly. 



The Blue-winged Teal is uncommon in New England and the 

 Provinces, and we must go to the region bordering the Mississippi 

 valley to find it in abundance. It breeds from the northern tier of 

 States northward, and winters in the Southern States, the Wes*^ 

 Indies, and Central America. 



