AMERICAN WIDGEON—“‘ BALD PATE.” 169 
Length to end of tail, 18 inches; extent of wings. 
30 inches; weight, 1 pound 5 ounces. 
The habits and peculiarities of the widgeon are sim- 
ilar to those of the pin-tail and mallard, although they 
do not frequent the timber as the mallards do, but pre- 
fer remaining out in the open field and prairies. When 
spring rains overflow low lands, spreading on the sur- 
face of the water the accumulations of winter, then one 
can expect to find the widgeon in large numbers, asso- 
ciating with pin-tails and mallards. They are an ex- 
ceedingly shy duck to shoot on the water, either from 
scull or paddle boat ; but when coaxed down by imitat- 
ing their cries, they cone down from great heights 
with graceful abandon, and perfectly unsuspicious of 
danger, drop softly in among the wooden decoys. They 
are an easy bird to kill when hit, and they seem to lack 
that vitality so noticeable in several other species of 
ducks. It isn’t necessary to have decoys of the same 
kind, mallards doing almost equally as well. They are 
always in good condition for the table, and are most 
excellent eating. 
No. 6 Chicago shot is the best size to use. 
