XXXIV 



THE TEAL 



THE teal are the smallest of the wild-fowl. There 

 are three varieties common to North America — 

 the blue-winged teal, the green-winged teal, and the 

 cinnamon-teal, all named from their color-markings, 

 the two former from the wings, the latter from the 

 prevailing color of the bird, which is a rich brown or 

 cinnamon. They are all very handsome on the water 

 and remarkably graceful in the air. They fly with 

 great rapidity, usually in flocks, and as they all wheel 

 together their color-markings show brightly in the 

 sun. They are all splendid table-birds, and the blue- 

 wing, as I have observed, is superior to the far-famed 

 canvas-back. 



We are inclined, however, to enthusiastic praise of 

 that which pleases at the time. On one occasion, when 

 shooting with some officers of the army, it turned very 

 cold and began to snow early in the afternoon, and, 

 since the ducks were not flying well, I left my blind 

 without waiting for the ambulance which came out 

 each evening to transport us to the camp. Upon my 

 arrival there I found that the post surgeon had pre- 

 ceded me, and was cooking a green-wing teal, which 

 was extremely fat from feeding on wild-rice. He in- 

 sisted upon my eating it, and proceeded to prepare 



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