74 



BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



AMAS DISCOHS. 

 [Plate LXVIIL— Fig. 4.] 



Le Sarcelle cVJlmeinque^ Briss. VI, p. 452. 35. — Buef. IX, p. 279. — PI. Enl. 966. — Catesb. I, 100. 

 — White faced Biicli, Lath. Sijn. Ill, p. 502. — ^^rct. Zool. JVo. 503. — Peale's Museum, ^o. 2846. 



THE Blue winged Teal is the first of its tribe that returns 

 to us in the autumn from its breeding place in the north. They 

 are usually seen early in September, along the shores of the Dela- 

 ware, where they sit on the mud close to the edge of the water, 

 so crowded together that the gunners often kill great numbers at 

 a single discharge. When a flock is discovered thus sitting and 

 sunning themselves, the experienced gunner runs his batteau 

 ashore at some distance below or above them, and getting out, 

 pushes her before him over the slippery mud, concealing himself 

 all the while behind her ; by this method he can sometimes ap- 

 proach within twenty yards of the flock, among which he gene- 

 rally makes great slaughter. They fly rapidly, and when they 

 alight drop down suddenly like the Snipe or Woodcock, among 

 the reeds or on the mud. They feed chiefly on vegetable food, 

 and are eagerly fond of the seeds of the reeds or wild oats. Their 

 flesh is excellent; and after their residence for a short time among 

 the reeds, becomes very fat. As the first frosts come on, they 

 proceed to the south, being a delicate bird, very susceptible of 

 cold. They abound in the inundated rice fields in the southern 

 states, where vast numbers are taken in traps placed on small dry 

 eminences that here and there rise above the water. These places 

 are strewed with rice, and by the common contrivance called a 

 figure four^ they are caught alive in hollow traps. In the month 



