‘THE WIDGEON. 587 
Nest, on the ground near water, of grasses lined with feathers. Eggs, 8-12, 
pale buffy or clay-colored. Av. size, 2.09 x 1.57 (53-1 X 39.9). 
General Range.—Nearly cosmopolitan. In North America breeds chiefly 
within the United States. 
Range in Ohio.—Rare migrant. Formerly and possibly still summer resi- 
dent. 
THE apparent scarcity of this species is doubtless to be attributed in 
part to its excessive timidity and cunning secretiveness. But perhaps at 
best it is to be regarded as the least common of those river ducks whose 
appearance in our state is anything more than accidental. 
The Gadwall remains, for the most part, closely secreted by day in the 
reeds or high grasses which border our lakes and river lagoons, venturing 
out only at dusk and feeding throughout the night. Its food seems to be 
largely vegetable, the leaves and roots of aquatic plants and river flotsam, 
obtained by diving or dabbling. It is not, however, averse to varying its 
diet with occasional insects and small fish. Not infrequently it feeds at 
considerable distance from water, in stubble-fields and the like, after the 
fashion of the Mallard. Such visits are, however, strictly nocturnal. Be- 
cause of its careful feeding the flesh of this duck is highly prized for the table. 
The nesting of the Gadwall has been reported by Mr. Charles Dury from 
the Grand Reservoir. It breeds sparingly wherever found, but its better 
known haunts are the sloughs of the northwestern prairie states. The nest 
is said to be always placed on dry ground, but not very far from water. “A 
hollow is scooped in the ground and well lined with strips or pieces of reeds, 
bits of dry grass and weed stems, or whatever material can be most easily 
gathered in the vicinity, mixed with down from the bird’s breast and pro- 
fusely lined with dark gray down around the eggs.”? Ten or eleven eggs 
are commonly laid. The birds are close sitters, but even then great care must 
be taken to distinguish them from the more common Baldpate. 
No. 285. 
WIDGEON. 
A. O. U. No. 136. Mareca penelope (Linn.). 
Synonyms.—EURoPEAN WipGEON; WIGEON. 
Description.—Adult male: Similar to that of next species, but top of head 
creamy buffy or buffy instead of white,—green wanting or showing only in traces; 
throat blackish; rest of head and neck rufous-brown. Adult female: Similar to next 
species, but head and neck deeper ochraceous-buff or rusty!. Size of next. 
1 A. C. Bent, ‘‘Nesting Habits of the Anatidae in North Dakota.’’ The Auk, Vol. XVIII. p. 333. 
