320 
SWIMMERS. 
north and west; they are particularly abundant as early as 
August in the Territory of Michigan, and Mr. Say observed 
them there on the 7th of June, so that they probably breed in 
the vicinity of the Great Lakes of the St. Lawrence as well as in 
the remote interior of the Canadian fur countries. 
These Teal arrive in this vicinity and other parts of Massa- 
chusetts near to the sea-coast early in September, and accord- 
ing to Wilson are seen soon after on the muddy shores of the 
Delaware, where they are often observed basking or hiding in 
crowded companies close to the edge of the water, where they 
can only be approached under cover. They fly out with rapid- 
ity, and when they alight, drop down suddenly among the 
reeds in the manner of the Snipe or Woodcock. As the first 
frosts come on, they proceed to the south, and then abound in 
the inundated rice-fields of the Southern States, where great 
numbers are taken in traps placed on the small dry eminences 
that here and there rise above the water, to which they are 
decoyed with rice ; and by the common contrivance called a 
Figure 4, they are taken alive in box-traps. In the month 
of April they pass through Pennsylvania on their way to the 
North, but make little stay at that season ; they are seen also 
in the spring in the State of Missouri, and spread themselves 
widely to breed throughout a great extent of the western and 
northern wilderness. 
Though often contiguous to the sea, these birds have no pre- 
dilection for visiting the shores, feeding chiefly on vegetables 
and insects, and particularly on the wild rice which abounds in 
the Northwestern lakes and sluggish streams. They are rnuch 
esteemed as game, and commonly become very fat. Their 
note, which is somewhat like a diminutive quack, is uttered 
low and rather rapidly. 
The Blue-winged Teal is uncommon in New England and the 
Provinces, and we must go to the region bordering the Mississippi 
valley to find it in abundance. It breeds from the northern tier of 
States northward, and winters in Florida, the West Indies, and 
Central America. 
