101 



GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 

 A:^'AS CRECCA, 

 [Plate LXX.— Fig. 4.] 



Lath. Syn. Ill, p. 554.^Bewigk's Br. Birds, r. IT, p. 338.— Peace's Musenvh ^'o, 2832. 



THE naturalists of Europe have designated this little Duck 

 by the name of the American Teal, as being a species different 

 from their own. On an examination, however, of the figure and 

 description of the European Teal by the ingenious and accurate 

 Bewick, and comparing them with the present, n6 difference whate- 

 ver appears in the length, extent, color, or markings of either, but 

 what commonly occurs among individuals of any other tribe ; both 

 undoubtedly belong to one and the same species. 



This, like the preceding, is a fresh water Duck, common in 

 our markets in autumn and winter ; but rarely seen here in sum- 

 mer. It frequents ponds, marshes, and the reedy shores of creeks 

 and rivers* Is very abundant among the rice plantations of the 

 southern states ; flies in small parties, and feeds at night. Asso- 

 ciates often with the Duck and Mallard, feeding on the seeds of 

 various kinds of grasses and water plants, and also on the tender 

 leaves of vegetables. Its flesh is accounted excellent. 



The Green winged Teal is fifteen inches in length, and twenty 

 four inches in extent; bill black, irides pale brown, lower eye lid 

 whitish, head glossy reddish chesnut ; from the eye backwards to 

 the nape runs a broad band of rich silky green edged above and 

 below by a fine line of brownish white, the plumage of the nape 

 ends in a kind of pendent crest ; chin blackish ; below the ches- 

 nut, the neck, for three quarters of an inch is white, beautifully 

 crossed with circular undulating lines of black ; back, scapulars, 



VOL. VIII. c c 



