DUCKS. 19 



at Crocketts Bluff on October 22 (1882), 1 and Savage saw a flock of 

 seven at Delight on November 9 (1910). McAtee found the species 

 abundant by the middle of November at Mud Lake and Wappanocka 

 Lake, but Hollister states that few were seen at Stuttgart in Jan- 

 uary. In spring the first arrivals have been noted at Fayetteville 

 March 20, but they doubtless reach the lowlands of the State in 

 February. The food of this teal consists principally of the seeds of 

 aquatic plants (including various grasses, sedges, wild rice, and pond- 

 weed), small acorns, fallen grapes or berries, aquatic insects, and 

 small snails. 



Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors. 



The bluewing is a common transient visitant, but as it migrates 

 south before the fall hunting season is fairly under way compara- 

 tively few are killed by market hunters or by sportsmen. The ear- 

 liest migrants reach Arkansas in late August or early September, 

 becoming common the last of September or first of October, and by 

 November nearly all have passed southward to their winter home. 

 In mild winters a few may remain in the State, as in the winter of 

 1893-94, when they were reported in small numbers from Big Lake. 2 

 A writer in the American Field, speaks of their occurrence in December 

 on Rose Lake, Crawford County. 3 In spring this is one of the latest 

 ducks to migrate, the majority passing north between March 15 and 

 April 15. Many linger even later than that, and I noted a small 

 flock on the St. Francis River, north of Bertig, April 29. Tins duck 

 feeds upon the seeds, roots, and tender blades of water plants, and is 

 said to be especially fond of wild rice. It eats also snails and insects. 



Shoveler. Spatula clypeata. 



The shoveler, or spoonbill, as it is usually called, is a fairly com- 

 mon migrant and an uncommon winter resident. McAtee took a 

 few specimens at Mud Lake, Wappanocka Lake, and Menasha Lake 

 between November 14 and 22, and it is reported in December from 

 the latter place and from Rose Lake, Crawford County. 4 Two were 

 killed on Big Lake, December 17 (1910), and a few are found there 

 throughout the winter (Eason). Its principal breeding range is in 

 the prairie region from Iowa and South Dakota northward to the 

 Saskatchewan, but since it has once been found breeding in east 

 Texas it may occasionally nest in Arkansas. The food of this duck 

 includes seeds of various water plants, snails, earthworms, and 

 aquatic insects. 



i "Byrne," Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 286, 1882. 

 2 Widmann, Auk, XII, p. 354, 1895. 

 s "Old Timer," Am. Field, LII, p. 181, 1899. 

 * Amer. Field, LII, p. 181, 1899. 



