Duck-shooting 91 



cases has been shot in company with the American 

 widgeon. That it occurs more frequently than is 

 supposed, would be indicated by the fact that in 

 some localities gunners speak of a red-headed 

 widgeon, supposing the bird to be a cross between 

 a red-head and a common widgeon, or baldpate. 

 Undoubtedly birds of this species are referred to. 

 In habits the European widgeon resembles the 

 American variety, frequenting marshes and shal- 

 low bodies of water in their vicinity ; but, unlike 

 the American baldpate, is frequently seen on salt 

 water, feeding almost entirely on the short grass 

 growing on the bottom. The widgeon has been 

 known to reach the age of twenty-three years. 



BALDPATE ^ 



(^Mareca aviericand) 



Adult male — Forehead and top of head, white ; a patch of metallic 

 green behind the eye extends down the neck posteriorly ; 

 remainder of head, buff speckled with black ; back and scapulars, 

 brown, undulated with black; wing-coverts, white; the greater 

 coverts, tipped with black forming a bar across the wing ; specu- 

 lum, green and black ; under wing-coverts, white ; breast and 

 sides, pale lilac, rest of under parts, pure white ; under tail-coverts 

 black ; tail, brown, edged with white ; bill, slate, with a black 

 nail; legs and feet, slate with dusty webs. 



Measiire7nents — Length, 19 inches ; wing, 10.50 inches ; culmen, i .50 

 inches; tarsus 1.50 inches. 



Adiclt female — Top of head, black, edged with white ; rest of head, 

 buff streaked with dusky ; upper breast and sides, reddish 

 buff, with dark spots on breast; rest of under parts, white; 

 upper parts, dusky, barred with buff; iris, brown ; legs and feet, 

 brown with dusky webs. 



