O08 THE FEATHERED I lUBE'. 



I'eariiig the brood ; and joining- his idle companii.>nH, letiirns to the sea-shore, wh^rc he 

 ni'Uills in •ruly and August." 



THE AMEKK AN WIGEON. 



'Mr. Audubon says : " This duck is abundant during winter in New Orleans, where it is 

 much esteemed on account of the juiciness of its flesh, and is best known by the name of 

 ziiizin. In the western country, and in most parts of the eastern and middle states, it is 

 called the bald pate. "While advancing along the shores of the Bay of Mexico, in Api'il, 

 1837, I and my party observed this species in considerable numbers ; and during the 

 whole of our stay in the Texas, we daily saw, and very frequently procured wigeons. 

 There they were found in ponds of brackish water, as well as in the fresh-water streams, 

 liefore we left that country tlu-y were all paired ; and I \\-as informed bj' the Honourable 

 31. Fisher, secretary to the Texiau .Navy, that a good number of thera breed in the 

 maritime districts along with several other ducks, and that he annually recei\ed many 

 of the young birds. Their manners at this time fully proved the coirectness of the 

 statements of all those who spoke to me on this subject. Indeed, my opinion is, that 

 some of these birds also jiropagate in certain portions of the most southern districts 

 of the Floridas, and in the island of ('aba, as I have seen wigeons in the peninsula in 

 single pair in the beginning of May." 



AVilson savs : " This species is very connnon in winter along the whole coast, from 

 I'lorida to Ithode Island, but most abundant in t'ai'olina, where it frequents the I'icc 

 plantations. In ^Fartinico, great flocks take short flights from one rice-held to another, 

 during the rainy season, and are much complained of by the planters. The wigeon is the 

 constant attendant of the celebrated (_'anvas-back Duck, so abundant in vaiious parts of 

 the Chesapeake Bay. They are said to be in great plenty at St. Domingo and Cayenne, 

 where thev are called ' vingeon,' or ' gingeon ;' arc said sometimes to perch on trees, feed 

 in company, and have a sentinel on the watch, like some other birds. They feed little 

 during the day, but in the evenings come out from their hiding-places, and are then easily 

 traced by their particular whistle, or icheic, ic/ieir. This soft note or whistle is frequently 

 imitated with success, to entice them within gun-shot. They are not known to breed in 

 any jjurt of the United States ; are common in the winter months along the bays of Egg 

 IFarbour and Cape ilay, and also those of the ])elaware. They leave these places in 

 .April, and appear upon the coasts of Hudson's Bay in May, as soon as the thaws come 

 on, chiefly in pairs; lay there only from six to eight eggs, and feed on flies and woijns 

 ill the swamps ; depart in flocks in autunni. These birds are frequently brought to tiie 

 market of Baltimore, and generally bring a good price, their flesh being excellent. They 

 are of a lively, frolicsome disposition, and willi ])roper attention might easily be 

 domesticali'd." 



■IIIK CO.M.MON SIIKI.I.DUAKK.* 



Colonel ilawker, in reference to their habits, says: " The yovcng shelldrakes, directly 

 after being hatched in the rabbit -bmi-ows, are taken by the parent birds to the sea, 

 wiiero they may bo seen in what the boatmen call troops, of from tliirty to forty ; but as 

 the female seldom hatches more than fouileen eggs, it is clear that each flock is formed 

 by two or three broods. On their Ix'ing approached, the old ones fly away, and leave 

 the young to shift for themselves by diving. They may be easily shot when they come 

 u]), but you can seldom icili more than on(> or two at a time, as they always disperse 

 before you can get very near them. 



' .•\iiiis 'i'ii(liiiMa'». 



