AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 283 



the Sora of the Delaware to the Scolopaceous Courlan of the Florida ever- 

 glades. 



On land, the Green-wing moves with more ease and grace than any other 

 species with which I am acquainted, excepting our beautiful Wood Duck. 

 It can run at a good rate, without entangling its webbed feet, as many others 

 do; and in this, too, there is a marked difference between fresh-water and 

 salt-water Ducks, as one may very readily perceive. On the water, also, it 

 moves with great ease, at times with considerable rapidity, and when not 

 severely wounded, is able to dive in a very creditable manner. On wing it 

 has no rivals among Ducks. Our two smaller Mergansers, however, are 

 swifter, although they exhibit none of the graceful movements every now 

 and then shewn by the Green-wings, when coursing in the air over and 

 around a pond, a river, or a large wet savannah. They rise from the water 

 at a single spring, and so swiftly too, that none but an expert marksman 

 need attempt to shoot them, if when starting they are many yards distant. 

 While feeding, they proceed in a close body along the shores, or wherever 

 the water is so shallow that they can reach the bottom with ease. In savan- 

 nahs or watery fields intersected by dry ridges, they remove from one pool 

 to another on foot, unless the distance is considerable; and in effecting the 

 transit, they run so huddled together, as to enable a gunner to make great 

 havoc among them. When the cravings of hunger are satisfied, they retire 

 to some clean part of the shore, or a sand-bar, where they rest in perfect 

 harmony, each individual composing its dress, and afterwards, with wings 

 slightly drooping, placing its breast to the sun. There they remain for an 

 hour or more at a time, some sound asleep, some dosing, but rarely without 

 a trusty sentinel watching over their safety. In this manner they spend the 

 winter months in the Southern and Western Countries. There, indeed, they 

 are far more abundant than in our eastern districts, just because the climate 

 is milder, the human population more dispersed, and the damp fields, mea- 

 dows, and savannahs more abundant. 



The migrations of this species are performed more over the land than 

 along the borders of the sea; and it is probable that its principal breeding- 

 places are in the interior of the Fur Countries; as it has been met there by 

 Sir Edward Parry, Sir James Ross, Dr. Richardson, and other intrepid 

 travellers. Some, however, remain on our great lakes, and I have seen indi- 

 viduals breeding on the banks of the Wabash, in Illinois, where I found a 

 female and young, all of which I obtained. It was not far above Vincennes, 

 in the month of July. On Lakes Erie and Michigan, nests containing eggs 

 have also been found; but these may have been cases in which the birds 

 were unable to proceed 'farther north, on account of wounds or other circum- 

 stances, or because of the early period at which they might have paired 



