428 AMERICAN WIGEON. 



on April 13th 1875. As strengthening the probability of its wander- 

 ing to Europe from America, I may mention that Mr. O. H. 

 Howarth informs me of a specimen in a collection at St. Michael, 

 Azores. Up to the present time this species is not known to have 

 been introduced upon ornamental waters in England or any part of 

 the Continent. 



In North America this Wigeon is found in summer from Alaska 

 eastward throughout the Fur-countries to Hudson Bay; and on 

 migration it occurs over the greater part of that continent, being 

 numerous on the Chesapeake, where, like the Canvas-back, it feeds 

 on the vallisneria. Audubon says that it is abundant during winter 

 at New Orleans, where it is much esteemed on account of the juici- 

 ness of its flesh, and is best known by the name of ' Zinzin.' In the 

 western country, and in most parts of the Eastern and Middle States, 

 it is called the Bald Pate. It frequents the rice-fields of the South, 

 wanders to the Bermudas, and is an annual winter-visitor to 

 Mexico, the West India Islands and Central America. 



The nest of this species is stated by Kennicott to be always on 

 high dry ground, among trees or bushes, at a considerable distance 

 from water ; it is a comparatively small depression among the dead 

 leaves, lined with down, and contains from 7-10 ivory-white eggs, 

 averaging in their measurements 2*2 by i"5 in. The note is a soft, 

 gentle whistle. 



The adult male has the forehead and crown dull white ; a broad 

 green streak passing backward from the eye ; cheeks and neck 

 whitish, freckled with black ; mantle brownish-grey vermiculated 

 with black ; lesser wing-coverts white, and the greater ones tipped 

 with black ; on the secondaries a green speculum ; tail greyish- 

 brown ; upper breast to flanks mottled reddish-brown ; belly and 

 vent white ; bill black at the tip, the rest grey ; legs and feet bluish. 

 In younger males the plumage is duller, and the soft parts are 

 darker in colour. Length 19 in,; wing 10-5 in. The female has 

 the head and neck yellowish-white speckled with black, little 

 rufous on the breast, and a dark brown back. The young are 

 much like the females in the first season, but the wing-pattern 

 is better defined, and the colours are more pronounced in the 

 drakes. 



