September, 1921 
FOREST AND STREAM 
417 
T HE teal come well to the decoys, 
especially if the counterfeits are 
painted to represent their own 
species or are of their own size. I have 
heard of teal decoying to plover de- 
coys which had been set out in the 
marsh or on a sandy shore by a sports- 
man hunting plover. Although I have 
often set out plover decoys in the 
marshes and about the shallow ponds 
on the meadows, I have never had teal 
come to them, but it is quite probable 
that they would do so, especially on 
grounds where the little ducks were not 
very wild. 
Teal when about to alight among the 
rushes will drop down suddenly in the 
manner of snipe or wood-cock. They 
will alight to the decoys in the same 
way, if permitted to do so, instead of 
hovering suspiciously over the spot, 
like the mallards and other ducks. 
Teal often come with a rush to the 
decoys, drop into the water, and spring 
into the air again, when they have 
seen the danger, almost before a shot 
can be fired. They are quick in every 
movement. It is necessary one time to 
swing the gun well above them, an- 
other time to shoot far under them, as 
they are springing into the air or drop- 
ping into the water, which ever the case 
may be. 
I cannot imagine any shooting more 
difficult than pass or flight-shooting at 
the teal. They, like other ducks, are 
easier marks when shot over decoys, 
but when under full headway, passing 
singly or in small flocks over points, 
where the shots are usually at long 
range, these diminutive ducks test the 
skill of the marksman to the fullest. 
I believe I am safe in claiming that 
a teal in full flight and going with the 
wind is the swiftest duck that flies. 
The sportsman must shoot long dis- 
tances ahead of the bird in order that 
the charge of shot will not pass in 
back of it. There is little danger in 
shooting too far ahead and few shots 
are missed by so doing. Teal, and other 
ducks as well, are always going faster 
than they appear to be. 
The male blue-winged teal can be 
identified at a good distance by the 
white crescent between the bill and 
eyes. A description of the male and 
female blue-wing follows: 
Male: Head and neck gray or lead 
color, black on top and on chin; broad 
white crescent-shaped mark on head be- 
tween bill and eyes ; back gray or gray- 
ish brown, marked with small black 
and buff crescents; wing-patch or spe- 
culum metallic green with white bar 
in front; lesser wing coverts sky blue; 
lower back and tail dusky with white 
patch on each side of tail; breast, un- 
derparts and sides pale reddish buff, 
spotted with dusky gray on the breast 
and barred on the flanks; bill grayish 
black; legs and feet yellowish, webs 
dusky. Female: Upper parts dusky 
brown marked with buff; top of head 
dark brown; throat, chin and sides of 
head whitish, finely marked with brown- 
ish black spots except on throat; wings 
similar to male ; breast and lower parts 
buff spotted with brown; bill black; 
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