BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 185 



feathers and some of the lower wing-coverts are 

 white ; but the patch of that color so conspicuous 

 in the male is wanting. 



Length to end of tail, 15 inches ; extent 

 of wings, 24; weight, 10^- ounces. 



The flesh of the blue-winged teal is considered 

 by epicures to be" superior in delicacy of flavor to 

 that of most water-fowl, that of the red-head and 

 canvas-back alone excepted; and as they are sel- 

 dom found in poor condition, unless having been 

 previously wounded, generally command a high 

 price in market, and are consequently much sought 

 for by the market-hunters. They are one of 

 the very first of the duck tribe to make their 

 appearance from the north, and congregate in 

 vast numbers on their favorite feeding-grounds of 

 the Western country. The seeds of the wild oats 

 or rice, and grass, various kinds of pond-weeds, 

 and mosses, and insects, are accepted by them 

 as food. They are very partial to small, muddy- 

 bottomed streams whose shallow edges are bor- 

 dered with wild rice, and the broad leaves of 

 the pond-lily, under which they are often to be 

 seen sitting, seemingly to escape the too intense 

 glare and heat of the sun ; and are always to 

 be found too, in proper season, in the shallow 



