67 



it is said that this species " comes from October 15 to November 1 ; re- 

 mains only a short time ; goes farther south, and passes north in April." 

 This is true of the bulk of the species, but some flocks can be found 

 throughout the winter in all the Southern States and north to southern 

 Illinois. Dr. J. C. Merrill states that at the mouth of the Eio Grande, in 

 extreme southeastern Texas, " a few remain during the winter, but the 

 great majority go farther south, returning about the middle of March." 

 In 1884 it was reported as breeding in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, 

 Minnesota, and Dakota ; and it breeds locally throughout most of the 

 rest of its range. In migration in the spring of 1884 it was the most 

 abundant Duck passing over Pierce City, Mo., the first of February, but 

 made no real headway until March. The bulk reached Newton, Iowa, 

 March 17, spreading over the rest of Iowa, and arriving at Heron Lake, 

 Minn., by April 2. It is not usually found among the first arrivals of 

 Ducks, but surpasses them all in numbers when the main flight comes. 

 It reached Vermillion, Dak., April 11, Menoken, Dak., April 20, and 

 was reported from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 16. 



In the fall of 1884, at Des Moines, Iowa, the last was seen November 

 10. The first migrant reached Emporia, Kans., August 30; the next 

 September 22, and it became common October 12. At San Angelo, 

 Tex., it was first seen August 10, and was common on the 10th and 21st 

 of September. In 1883 it had appeared there September 1, and became 

 common by September 20. 



In the spring of 1885 the first flight of Ducks over the district be- 

 tween latitude 39° and latitude 42° was so delayed that the Blue-winged 

 Teal came with the van ; but north of latitude 43° it assumed its usual 

 position as one of the later migrating Ducks. At Shawneetown, 111., it 

 was first seen February 23 ; at Cimarron, Kans., March 1 ; Fayette, 

 Mo., March 10; Emporia, Kans., March 29; Des Moines, Iowa, April 

 4; Sioux City, Iowa, April 5; Heron Lake, Minn., April 11; Huron, 

 Dak., April 14; Menoken, Dak., April 22; Shell Eiver, Manitoba, 

 May 2. 



The Blue-winged Teal breeds over so much of the Mississippi valley 

 that it is difficult to trace its southward migration. In the fall of 1885 

 the first was recorded from Grinnell, Iowa, September 10 ; Ellsworth 

 Kans., September 15; Emporia, Kans., September 1 ; Saint Louis, Mo. 

 where it became numerous three days later, September 1 ; Shawnee 

 town, 111., September 28; Bonham, Tex., October 4; San Angelo, Tex. 

 September 4. They were common at Grinnell, Iowa, October 4 ; Ells 

 worth, Kans., October 15 ; Saint Louis, Mo., September 22, where they 

 were still numerous October 24 ; Bonham, Tex., October 28. The last 

 was seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 9; Milwaukee, Wis., No- 

 vember 14; and Grinnell, Iowa, November 4. 



141. Anas cyanoptera Vieill. [610.] Cinnamon Teal. 



This western Teal is not uncommon in middle and western Kansas, 

 where it probably breeds (Goss). It has been found repeatedly in 



