THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 213 



if I am not mistaken, is exclusively North American, is 

 widely distributed through Canada, breeding also in 

 many parts of it, the rude and simple nest being often 

 found among the grassy tufts of rough sedgy swamps and 

 by the rush-grown margins of quiet inlets. It contains 

 half-a-dozen or more eggs of a dirty white, spotted with 

 brown. 



Its food is chiefly vegetable, and in excellence of 

 flesh this duck is only equalled by the Canvas-back, to 

 which, indeed, some even think it superior. It appears to 

 be always in first-rate condition, though it is a very small 

 duck, weighing not more than twelve or thirteen ounces. 



The Blue-winged Teal is extremely susceptible of 

 cold, and on the first appearance of autumnal frost 

 betakes itself to the Southern States and Mexico, where it 

 passes the winter in a climate more congenial to its frame. 



The general plumage is dark, the head and neck being 

 varied with green and purple reflections, and the breast 

 and back beautifully marked with bufi", while the belly is 

 a light brown. The smaller wing-coverts are of a bright 

 sky-blue, from which it obtains its name; the tail is a 

 rich brown, and rather long. The bill is lead colour, 

 but the legs and feet are a dull yellow. 



In the female there is not much difi'erence of plumage 

 beyond the absence of the purple and green on the head 

 and neck. 



