AMERICAN VVIGEON. 197 



dental variety of the species ; there was a female along Avith 

 it, which, after some hesitation, he unfortunately left, con- 

 sidering it only as a variety, but insufficiently diverse to be 

 worth preserving ; he has since, however, positively recog- 

 nised the female of the American Wigeon to be identical 

 with the bird he thus passed over, hesitatingly, in the market. 

 The dimensions of the male bird were nineteen inches in 

 length, and thirty-two and a half in extent of wing ; the 

 beak is rather narrower than that of its European relative, 

 and nearly a quarter of an inch longer ; the tracheal laby- 

 rinth, or rather osseous vesicle, considerably smaller ; scarcely 

 exceeding in magnitude that of a Teal." 



I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Bartlett for the 

 opportunity afforded me of giving a figure, description, and 

 measurements from his specimen. I must also refer to Ame- 

 rican authorities for the habits and localities of this bird. 

 Wilson says " this species is very common in winter along 

 the whole coast, from Florida to Rhode Island, but most 

 abundant in Carolina, where it frequents the rice plantations. 

 In Martinico, great flocks take short flights from one rice 

 field to another, during the rainy season, and are much com- 

 plained of by the planters. The Wigeon is the constant 

 attendant of the celebrated Canvass-back Duck, so abundant 

 in various parts of the Chesapeake Bay. They are said to 

 be in great plenty at St. Domingo and Cayenne, where they 

 are called 'vingeon,' or 'gingeon ;*' are said sometimes to perch 

 in 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 whew, whew. 

 This soft note, or whistle, is frequently imitated with success, 

 to entice them within gunshot. They are not known to 

 breed in any part of the United States ; are common in the 

 winter months along the bays of Egg Harbour and Cape 



