318 
BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 
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 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 
Kaatskill mountains. They rarely visit the seashore. 
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 of 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 brown- 
ish white, elegantly 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 semicircles of pale brown; sides of the vent pure 
white; under tail coverts black; back deep brownish black, each 
feather waved with large semi-ovals of brownish white; lesser 
wing coverts a bright light blue; primaries dusky brown; se- 
condaries black; speculum or beauty spot, rich green, tertials 
edged with black or light blue, and streaked down their mid- 
dle with white; the tail, which is pointed, extends two inches 
beyond the wings; legs and feet yellow, 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 indis- 
tinct; wing nearly the same in both. 
