282 
AMERICAN GREEN-DINGED TEAL. 
birds are often observed to do so; while Curlews, Cormorants, Plovers, 
Ducks, and G-eese, are similar in this respect. The first object in view with 
such species is to remove from one part of the country to another, as eve 1 '* 
one knows ; and as to reach a place of safety abundantly supplied w : tl 
is the next object, you may perhaps join me in concluding, that, to the spo 
or district in which birds have once been and spent a season, they are ever 
afterwards inclined to return. Well, the Green- wings are known to follow 
each other in flocks, sometimes consisting of a few families, sometimes of 
many hundred individuals, particularly in autumn, when old and young 
leave the north to avoid the rigours of its dreary winter. In spring, again, 
many species both of land and water birds perform their migrations, either 
singly or in smaller groups, the males departing before the females, and 
in some cases the young keeping by themselves, an arrangement perhaps 
intended for the greater dispersion of the species. 
In Louisiana, the Green-winged Teal is named Sarcelle d'hiver , while the 
Blue-winged species bears the name of Sarcdle d’ete, although the latter 
remains only some weeks in that country after the departure of the former. 
Its general name, however-, is the “ Green-wing and a poor name in my 
opinion it is, for the bird has not more green on its wings than several other 
species have. Indeed, very many birds are strangely named, not less in 
; pure Latin, than in English, French, and Dutch ; and very many are every 
year receiving names still stranger than those they bore. For my part, I 
am at present a kind of conservative, and adhere to the old system until I 
see the mud raised up by the waders subside, when I may probe my way 
with more chance of success. 
The Green-winged Teal is a fresh-water bird, being rarely met with in 
marine bays, creeks, or lagoons, where, however, it may sometimes spend a 
few days. It is accordingly enabled to feed with its body half immersed, in 
the manner of the Mallard and several other species, for which purpose it is 
furnished with a comparatively long neck. Its food consists principally of 
the seeds of grasses, which are collected either when floating or when still 
adhering to their stalks, small acorns, fallen grapes or berries, as well as 
aquatic insects, worms, and small snails. I have never found water lizards, 
leeches, fishes, or even tadpoles in their gizzards. The food of this bird 
being thus more select than that of most other Ducks, its flesh i*s delicious, 
probably the best of any of its tribe ; and I would readily agree with any 
epicure in saying, that when it has fed on wild oats at Green Bay, or on 
soaked rice in the fields of Georgia and the Carolinas, for a few weeks after 
its arrival in those countries, it is much superior to the Canvass-back in 
tenderness, juiciness, and flavour. Indeed, the Green-wing is as much 
superior to the Canvass-back, as the European Quail is to the Capercailzie, 
