(Plate 1). 
THE GREEN-WINGED TEAL 
Querquedula caeolinensis (Gmelin) Stephens, 
In the presence of the opposite plate it would be superfluous to 
dilate upon the varied and brilliant tints of the plumage of this 
handsome little duck, and useless to repeat a technical description 
of the characteristics of the bird'’s form and plumage. Let that 
be reserved for the systematic works. 
The Green-winged Teal is one of the best known of all our 
fresh-water ducks, since it is commonly met with over the whole 
of North America in spring and fall, during its passage between 
its winter home in Mexico and the West Indies, and its breeding 
grounds north of Lake Superior. It reaches the Middle States 
early in the Spring, about the time of the breaking up of the ice, 
and passes on hurriedly, being filled with a desire to begin the 
duties of incubation. 
The nest ol this teal has rarely been found within the Vnitesd 
States except about the Great Lakes, but it is not uncommonly 
met with in the British Provinces, Canada, and thence northward 
to the Arctic Ocean. Its nest is built early in June, and is placed 
on the ground in a thick tussock oi grass, usually among the reeds 
and rank growth lining the bank of some stream or pond. “ It is 
constructed of, first, a thick layer of soft pieces of grass and weeds, 
on which is placed a thin covering- of the down and feathers from 
the breast of the bird,” 
The eggs are about eight in number, and somewhat less than 
two inches in length. Their color is dull greenish-white. 
Its arrival in August or early September marks the begin¬ 
ning of the autumnal duck-shooting, and it quickly becomes 
numerous on all the little ponds and reedy streams, as well as in 
the bayous that overflow the low shores of the large lakes and 
rivers oi the Western States. In such situations the gunner finds 
these ducks in small flocks which keep together, so that fre¬ 
quently three or four may be killed at a single discharge. Their 
food consists of the seeds of aquatic plants, water-insects and 
their larvae, small mollusks, the tadpoles of frogs, et cetera, varying 
with the season. The flesh is therefore well flavored, and ranks 
high on the epicure’s list. Teals are not as shy as most of the 
wild ducks, and Mr. Samuels tells us that he has often seen them, 
not only swimming fearlessly in the farmer’s duck-pond, but 
even mingling with barn-yard fowls and taking their share of the 
corn. 
In the water this little bird is gracelul in motion, though mov¬ 
ing ahput with great activity. " Its flight is rapid, and accompa¬ 
nied with a whistling murmur different from that of most of our 
other ducks.’ By the end of October all have gone southward. 
This Green-winged Teal was supposed by the early ornitholo¬ 
gists to be identical with the European duck of the same name, 
which occurs as an occasional straggler to this country, and is the 
Querquedula crecca ol Linnaeus. We have also in this country 
two other teal-ducks,— the Blue-winged ( Querquedula discors), and 
the Cinnamon or Red-breasted Teal ( Querquedula cyanoptera). 
The former is found everywhere eastward oi the Rocky Mount¬ 
ains, and northward to Alaska, breeding at a more southern lati¬ 
tude than the Green-wing-, while the red-breasted species is con¬ 
fined to the Pacific slope. Their habits differ very little from 
those of our subject, and no better picture of teal-life generally is 
to be found than that reminiscence of a November day in Arizona 
— where all three species meet-—which Dr. Elliott Coues records 
in his “ Birds of the Northwest." 
" It is a pleasant sight to see the birds before us — perhaps 
within a few paces, if we have very carefully crawled through the 
rushes to the verge —fancying themselves perfectly secure. Some 
may be quietly paddling in and out of the sedge on the other 
side, daintily picking up the floating seeds that were shaken down 
when the wind rustled through, stretching up to gather those still 
hanging, or to pick off little creatures from the seared stalks. 
Perhaps a flock is floating idly in midstream, some asleep, with the 
head resting close on the back, and the bill buried in the plum¬ 
age. Some others swim vigorously along, with breasts deeply 
immersed, tasting the water as they go, straining it through their 
bills to net minute insects, and gabbling to each other their sense 
of perfect enjoyment. But let them appear never so careless they 
arc quick to catch the sound of coming danger and take alarm ; 
they? are alert in an instant; the next incautious movement or 
snapping of a twig startles them; a chorus of quacks, a splashing 
of feet, a whistling of wings, and the whole company 7 is off." 
