GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 93 



very abundant among the rice plantations of the Southern States ; flies 

 in small parties, and feeds at night. Associates often with the Duck 

 and Mallard, feeding on the seeds of various kinds of grasses and 

 water plants, and also on the tender leaves of vegetables. Its flesh is 

 accounted excellent. 



The Green-winged Teal is fifteen inches in length, and twenty-four 

 inches in extent ; bill black, irides pale brown, lower eyelid whitish ; 

 head glossy reddish chestnut ; from the eye backwards to the nape runs 

 a broad band of rich silky green edged above and below by a fine line 

 of brownish white, the plumage of the nape ends in a kind of pendent 

 crest ; chin blackish ; below the chestnut, the neck, for three-quarters 

 of an inch is white, beautifully crossed with circular undulating lines of 

 black ; back, scapulars, and sides of the breast white, thickly crossed in 

 the same manner ; breast elegantly marked with roundish or heart- 

 shaped spots of black on a pale vinaceous ground, variegated with lighter 

 tints ; belly white ; sides waved with undulating lines ; lower part of 

 the vent feathers black ; sides of the same brownish white, or pale red- 

 dish cream ; lesser wing-coverts brown ash, greater tipped with reddish 

 cream; the first five secondaries deep velvety black, the next five 

 resplendent green, forming the speculum or beauty spot, which is 

 bounded above by pale buff, below by white, and on each side by deep 

 black ; primaries ashy brown ; tail pointed, eighteen feathers, dark 

 drab ; legs and feet flesh-colored. In some a few circular touches of 

 white appear on the breast, near the shoulder of the wing. The wind- 

 pipe has a small bony labyrinth where it separates into the lungs ; the 

 intestines measure three feet six inches, and are very small and tender. 



The female wants the chestnut bay on the head, and the band of rich 

 green through the eye, these parts being dusky white speckled with 

 black ; the breast is gray brown, thickly sprinkled with blackish, or 

 dark brown ; the back dark brown, waved with broad lines of brownish 

 white ; wing nearly the same as in the male. 



This species is said to breed at Hudson's Bay, and to have from five 

 to seven young at a time.* In France it remains throughout the year, 

 and builds in April, among the rushes on the edges of ponds. It has 

 been lately discovered to breed also in England, in the mosses about 

 Carlisle.f It is not known to breed in any part of the United States. 

 The Teal is found in the north of Europe as far as Iceland ; and also 

 inhabits the Caspian Sea to the south. Extends likewise to China, hav- 

 ing been recognised by Latham among some fine drawings of the birds 

 of that country. 



* Latham. t Bewick. 



