THE GREEN-WINGED TEAL — 303 
upper breast a beautiful buff tint with numer- 
ous black ‘‘polka dots’’ scattered through it, 
these growing fewer and fainter below, and the 
buff fading gradually into a grayish white, on 
the flanks finely pencilled with regular lines of 
black. Crissum black with buff both before and 
behind it. Bill black; iris brown; feet dull 
bluish. 
The females of our own species and of the 
European race are not to be distinguished 
apart. Our bird may average a trifle larger. 
The female is not crested and is much less show- 
ily dressed. Head and neck light yellowish 
brown, finely streaked with black. Above, mot- 
tled with yellow, brown and black. Below gray- 
ish, with buff shadings and dusky specklings on 
the breast. In her other coloring she is nearly 
like the male. 
With these, as is generally the case with the 
duck tribe, the greater number breed beyond 
the boundaries of the United States, through 
the lake country of Canada, anywhere east of 
the Rockies, though where conditions are suit- 
able they are fairly numerous during the nest- 
ing season in the northernmost States. The 
nest is made upon the ground; a slight affair 
