BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



75 



of April they pass through Pennsylvania for the north ; but make 

 little stay at that season. I have observed them numerous on the 

 Hudson opposite to the Katskill mountains. They rarely visit 

 the sea shore. 



This species measures about fourteen inches in length, and 

 twenty two inches in extent ; the bill is long in proportion, and 

 of a dark dusky slate ; the front and upper part of the head are 

 black, from the eye to the chin is a large crescent of white, the 

 rest of the head and half the neck is of a dark slate richly glossed 

 with green and violet, remainder of the neck and breast is black 

 or dusky, thickly marked with semicircles of brownish white, ele- 

 gantly intersecting each other ; belly pale brown, barred with 

 dusky, in narrow lines ; sides and vent the same tint, spotted with 

 oval marks of dusky ; flanks elegantly waved with large semicir- 

 cles of pale brown ; sides of the vent pure white ; under tail co- 

 verts black ; back deep brownish black, each feather waved with 

 large scmi-ovals of brownish white ; lesser wing coverts a bright 

 light blue ; primaries dusky brown ; secondaries black ; speculum 

 or beauty spot, rich green, tertials edged with black or light blue, 

 and streaked down their middle with white ; the tail, which is 

 pointed, extends two inches beyond the wings ; legs and feet yel- 

 low, the latter very small ; the two crescents of white before the 

 eyes meet on the throat. 



The female differs in having the head and neck of a dull 

 dusky slate instead of the rich violet of the male, the hind head 

 is also whitish. The wavings on the back and lower parts more 

 indistinct ; wing nearly the same in both. 



