Outlines for Scout Workers, XXV

Outlines for Scout Workers

By Wilmer Jeppson and D. W . Parratt

XXV— The Greerv-winged Teal you of my little queen, when on the nest she is not seen, I'll tell For she is dressed in quaker gray; she never, never wants to play, For fear her enemy some day will take her pretty eggs away. — Dorothy Market, age 11 years.

1. Name the three general classes of wild ducks. To which does the green-winged teal belong?
   2. Why is the green-winged teal so named?
   3. Note size, color and markings of the teal. Contrast male and female in these respects and explain why the difference. When are these differences most pronounced? Why then? Most alike? Why then?
   4. In what sort of habitat does the teal live? Name at least four things of the bird that would indicate this.
   5. Where and of what is the nest made? Does the green-winged teal fiest in our valley? If so, in what parts?
   6. Tell of the size, color, and number of eggs.
   7. The teal is a swift, tireless flyer. What is there about his body to indicate this?
   8. Under what conditions does he fly high? Why? Fly low? Why?
   9. Should this bird be better projected? Why? How may this be done?

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Handy Material

The Green-winged Teal

Upon my head two bands are seen, Two bands of bright and shining green, My folded wings are tinted, too, With that same brilliant emerald hue, The river is my boarding place, I swim upon its liquid face, And get my dinner from the tide Where water bugs in rushes hide. My feet go up, down goes my head, And that is how my crop is fed. —Stuart Schick, Age 11.

Ducks are divided into three general classes, known as sea, deep water, and river ducks. The first live almost entirely on the open sea, the second, as a rule, on both the sea and land, and the third almost wholly inland along rivers, ponds, and lakes. Sea and deep water ducks are expert divers and secure much of their food at considerable depths in the water. This, however, is not true of the river ducks. The food obtained from the water by the river duck is secured by the bird tipping into a vertical position and reaching with its bill to the bottom of the shallow stream or pond. The smaller kinds of river ducks habitually flock in close groups. Ordinarly each group consists of from about eight to twelve individuals. In size, flocking habits, and activity, these little ducks resemble the young of larger ducks and in consequence are called teals. There are three varieties of teals in North America the — blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon. The head and neck of the green-winged adult male is a reddish-chestnut, with a broad band of metallic green on each side, running from the eye to the back of the neck where the two meet in a tuft. The under side of this green band is edged with a narrow line of buff. The breast is reddish cream color dotted with round or oval spots of jet black. The sides of his breast and most of his back are marked with wavy lines of black upon a white ground. The lower back is brownish gray, and a broad white bar is on the side of the breast just in front of the bend of the wing. A small patch of showy green is found about half way along the wing, and from this characteristic marking the little teal under consideration gets its familiar name of green-winged teal. The female is brown with most of the feathers edged with buff. The sides of her head are white, speckled with brown. Her wings are like those of the male, but the speculum is smaller and duller. The under parts are white and the breast spotted.

OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 697

In general, she is duller in color and has fewer and less conspicuous markings, thus affording needed protection to her during nesting time and the period she is rearing her young. These contrasts between male and female are most pronounced during mating season, for then the proud drake has need of attractive gowns and showy trimmings to win desired attentions of the modest female. In line with prevailing bird custom, she chooses her mate and in consequence has no need of showy attire. But with the competing suitor it is quite different. Winning ways and pretty colors surely prove advantageous to him. The fellow making the best showing before the lady bird stands best chance of being chosen, while the one making the poorest is most likely the one to be "left in the cold." However, as late spring and early summer advance the father bird sheds his "sparkling clothes" and dresses more in keeping with his natural surroundings. And from then until fall male and female appear so much alike that it is difficult to tell them apart. As already suggested, the green-winged teal is among the smallest of the duck family. He measures about fourteen inches in length and, as with most other birds, is somewhat larger than the female. His body, being boat-shaped, is well adapted to floating upon water and cutting through air. The large, welldeveloped breast muscles readily indicate his ability as a swift, tireless flyer, and suggest at once his wide area of flight. He ranges throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico, and is very often found migrating and associating with the mallard. Both green-winged teals and mallards use the same feeding grounds and are equally fond of wooded streams, creeks, and bayous, and habitually select nesting places in the same territory. By some people, this teal is best known by the name of little mallard. Our basin is a favorite home of the green-winged teals and most of those living here remain the entire year. The streams and swamps afford splendid nesting and feeding grounds, and the open springs, creeks, and rivers offer suitable water and food conditions throughout the colder months of winter. The secluded nest is usually built in fields or under brush a short distance from water, and is made of grass and weeds, lined with fluffy feathers from the mother's breast. In it are snugly hid from six to twelve beautiful pale buff or ivory white eggs, sometimes tinged with delicate green. The little lady bird takes full management of hatching and rearing the young. Coyotes, weasels, minks, snakes, hawks, and men are among the teal's worst enemies, the last named being by far the most destructive. As a rule the first ones mentioned kill through ne-

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cessity to satisfy hunger, but with man it is usually quite dif- ferent. Most of his killing is for "sport." The more he kills the more "sport" he has. It is "sport" for him to deceive these beautiful birds by mimicking their call and thus collect them into close groups in order to mow the entire flock with one discharge of a shot-gun. These "sports" with modern guns have almost rid the middle West and East of their bounteous flocks of ducks, and are now looking for new fields to devastate. In our anxiety to boom the West we thoughtlessly herald to them the fine hunting grounds along our inland sea. Circulars and advertising matter sent broadcast throughout the land are intended to induce wealthy "sports" and "game hogs" to visit these fields and slaughter the game. Should no* such advertisements be prohibited by our state? We are striving to train local citizens in the necessity of preserving game for future generations, and at the same time allow thoughtless men and greedy companions to send this sort of literature inviting anxious game killers to satisfy their degraded passion in our own state. Surely we already have enough men who lust for life without importing more. The Wild Duck's Nest

The imperial consort of the fairy king Owns not a sylvan bower or gorgeous cell, With emerald floored, and with purpureal shell Ceilinged and roofed that is so fair a thing As this low structure.

Words cannot paint the o'ershadowing yew-tree bough And dimly-gleaming nest — a hollow crown Of golden leaves inlaid with silver down, Fine as the mother's sofest plumes allow; I gazed— and, self-accused while gazing, sighed For hu an kind, weak slave of cumbrous pride. — Wordsworth.

Interest in Church Literature

Charles E. Billman, of Thames, New Zealand, writing to the Bureau of Information, says: "Great interest is now being taken by our leading townspeople in reading the Deseret News for which I subscribe and which I get regularly, also the Era, sent free, and the Young Woman's Journal and The Juvenile Instructor, there being quite a rush on the arrival of the American mail to see who is going to get the papers first. I am indeed pleased to note that where there was strong opposition to the principles of the gospel and the teachings of the Church, we now have firm friends. The Era easy takes first place among any of the important journals. The remark is often passed that it is a pity it is not published weekly instead of monthly."

TROOP 51, SALT LAKE CITY, ST. MARKS CHURCH, E. B. HEISLER, SCOUT MASTER, Was successful in winning the President's silk flag for the State of Utah, they having sold more bonds in proportion to the number of registered scouts than any other troop in Utah. This flag was given by the President of the United States at the suggestion of the National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee. The Utah flag was presented by Mrs. W. Mont Ferry, representing the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee of Utah. It is mounted on a staff surmounted by the American Eagle. An engraved brass ring on the pole gives the details of the award, and the name of the winning troop. The presentation took place at Barratt Hall, Salt Lake City, on Friday evening, April 26, preceding the Boy Scout Campaign for the Third Liberty Loan. This rally was one of the most enthusiastic rallies ever held by the boys. A similar flag is to be given by the President of the United States for the winning troop in the Third Liberty Loan Campaign.