BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



X^ORE restricted in its range than the Green-Winged 

 Teal, the present species, sometimes called Sum- 

 mer Teal and White-faced Duck (Printempsnierre in the 

 spring, and Automnierre in the autumn in Louisiana), 

 is found chiefly in the Mississippi Valley, where it is very 

 abundant, and throughout the eastern portion of the 

 United States. It is rare in Alaska, and is accidental on 

 the Pacific coast north of the Gulf of California, save, 

 perhaps, in summer, when it occasionally appears upon 

 the Alaskan coast. In winter it goes south to the West 

 Indies and northern South America. The Blue-winged 

 Teal breeds in various portions of the eastern States of 

 the Union, and also in the Mississippi Valley, and is 

 one of the first of the great host of the Duck tribe to 

 appear in the annual migration southward. 



This Teal nests on low land, usually near the water, 

 amid reeds and high grass growing in such situations. 

 In the center of a mass of rushes and coarse grass a 

 quantity of down and feathers is placed, and upon this 

 sometimes as many as twelve white eggs are deposited. 

 This Duck is a lover of mild climates arid soft airs, and 

 is never seen when ice and snow abound, unless some 

 such calamity as a severe frost has suddenly come upon 

 the southern land in which it is passing the winter. 

 Early in September the flocks gather in the northern part 

 of the Union, preparatory to their departure on their 

 southern journey, while those which have passed the sum- 

 mer north of our borders commence to appear within the 



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