77 
BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 
^JVJJS DISCOBS. 
[Plate LXVIIL— Fig. 4, Male.'] 
Gmel. Si/st.- 1, p. 535, JVo. 37.— Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 854, No. 55. Gen. Syn. Ill, p. 502, 
No. 50.—Jrct. Zool. No. SQZ.— JFhite-faced Teal, Catesby, I, pi. 100; Blue-wing'ed 
Teal, Id. pi 99, female . — La sarcelle d'Amerlque, Buiss. VI, p. 452, No. 35 ; La sarcelle 
dc Firginie, Id. p. 455, No. 36. — La sarcelle soucrouroit, Buff. IX, p. 279 ; La sarcelle 
soucrourette. Id. p. 280. Sarcelle male de Cayenne, ditte le soucroitrou, PI Enl 966 ; Sar- 
celle de Caijenne, Id. 403, female . — Peale’s Museum, No. 2846. 
THE Blue-winged Teal is the first of its tribe that returns 
to us ill the autumn, from its breeding place in the north. They 
are usually seen early in September, along the shores of the Dela- 
ware, where they sit on the mud close to the edge of the water, 
so crowded together that the gunners often kill great numbers at 
a single discharge. When a flock is discovered thus sitting and 
sunning themselves, the experienced gunner runs his bateau 
ashore, at some distance below or above them, and getting out, 
pushes her before him over the slippery mud, concealing himself 
all the while behind her ; by this method he can sometimes ap- 
proach within twenty yards of the flock, among which he gene- 
rally makes great slaughter. They fly rapidly ; and when they 
alight drop down suddenly like the Snipe or Woodcock, among 
the reeds, or on the mud. They feed chiefly on vegetable food, 
and are eagerly fond of the seeds of the reeds or wild oats. Their 
flesh is excellent; and after their residence for a short time among 
the reeds, becomes very fat. As the first frosts come on, they 
proceed to the south, being a delicate bird, very susceptible of 
cold. They abound in the inundated rice fields in the southern 
states, where vast numbers are taken in ti'aps placed on small dry 
U 
VOL. VIII. 
