THE MUSEUM 



189 



38. Ambljcercus holosericciis (Lich- 



tenstein\ 

 Plnatatioii Cassiquo. 



39. Icterus gularis ( Wagler). 



Lesson's Oriole. 



40. Spinus psaltria Mexicanus (Swain- 



Son.) 

 Mexicau Goldlinch. 



41. Passernia parellina (Bonaparte). 



Blue Bunting. 



42. Euetheia olivacea pusilla (Swain- 



son). 

 Mexican Gnissquit. 



43. Pitylus celaino (hichtenstein). 



Mexican Pitylus. 



44. Saltator atriceps, Lesson. 



Black-headed Saltator. 



45. Saltator grandis (Lichtenstein.) 



Gray-backed Saltator. 



46. Phcenicothraupis fuscicauda salvi- 



ni (Berlepsch). 

 Salvin's Ant Tanager. 



47. Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson). 



Louisiana Tanager. 



48. Tanagra abbas, Lichtenstein. 



Northern Palm Tanager. 



49. Euphonia hirundinacea, Bona- 



parte. 

 Swallow-billed Euphonia. 



50. Euphonia affinis, Lesson. 



Allied Euphonia. 



51. Vireo solitarius (Wilsonj. 



Blue-headed Vireo. 



52. Heimitheros vermivorus (Gmelin^. 



Worm-eating Warbler. 



53. Compsothlypis Americana fLin- 



na-us). 

 I'lirula Warljler. 



54. Geothiypis tlavovelatus, Ridgsvay. 



Alta Mira Yellow-throat. 



55. Sylvania mitrata Gmelin). 



Hooded Warbler. 



56. Sylvania pusilla (Wilson). 



Wilson's Warbler. 



57. Basileiiterus culicivorus fLichten- 



stein . 

 Brashcr's Warbler. 



58. Thryothorus maculipcctiis. Laf- 



resnaye. 

 Spotted-breasted Wren. 



59. Ilemiura leiicogastra (Gould) 



Short-tailed Wren. 



60. Merula Grayi (Bonaparte). 



Gray's Robin. 



The American Widgeon. 



(yhms Aintriciiiui. ) 



This beautiful duck is a familiar oc- 

 cjuaintance with most sportsmen the 

 country over. It is closely allied to 

 the European Widgeon {A. pcnclope), 

 which it resembles, with the e.xcept- 

 ion that the European species is of a 

 somewhat browner tint where the 

 American is a handsome gray. Both 

 species are prized for the table, the 

 flavor being very delicate when the 

 bird is in prime condition. 



The American Widgeon breeds in 

 the far north and only visits our waters 

 during the spring and fall migrations. 

 It belongs to the family Anatinac, 

 which includes the pond or river 

 ducks among which are the mallard, 

 widgeon, wood duck, teal, pintail and 

 black duck, all of which are highly 

 prized. The widgeon is a rapid flyer 

 and it may be identified by its peculiar 

 cry — a sort of snoring \vhi.stle rather 

 faint in tone. 



This duck is known by many names 

 among the gunners of lake and sea- 

 board. "IJald-pate," "bald-head," 

 "white belly," "poacher," "bald-face" 

 and "wheat- duck" are applied to it in 

 different p irts of the country. All 

 but one of these names explain them- 

 selves, but the term "poacher" may 

 not be so easily understood. It re- 

 fers to the widgeon's method of secur- 

 ing dainty fare. 



The widgeon seldom or never dives 

 yet he is extremely fond of the white, 

 tender root of the / 'alisinciia spiral- 

 is, called by sportsmen "celery." As 

 this plant grows on shoals at a depth 

 of from seven to nine feet the coveted 

 root can only be secured by diving; 

 hence if he were not clever, the widg- 

 eon might never taste the dainty. 

 But he is clever, and so he /nakes the 

 celebrated canvasback do his diving. 



