CIIAPTKU xviir. 



AMERICAN WIDGEON (.\NAS AMKUICANA). 

 Local naiuo, " Bald-pato.'' 



Adult male : Hill nearly as lonix as tho lioacl, 

 doopoi* tliau broad at tho l)aso, depressed towards 

 the end, the sides nearly parallel, the tip rounded. 



Head of luiHloratc size, oblong, eonipressed. 

 Neek rather long, slender. Hoily elongated and 

 slightly depressed. Feet very short; tibia bare 

 for about a quarter ot^ an ineh ; tarsus very 

 short, oon\prcssed. 



Phunage dense, soil, blended. Feathers of (he 

 head and upper neck oblong, small ; those along 

 the erown and oeeipnt longer; o( the lower parts 

 (uate, glossy, with the extremitiiv^ ot' the llla- 

 nients stillish. Wings rather h)ng, little curved, 

 narrow, pointed. Tail short, rounded, and pointed, 

 of si.xteen feathers, of whieh the middle pair arc 

 more pointed, and project considerably. 



Bill light grayish-blue, with the extremity, in- 

 806 



