BIRDS OF NEW YORK 189 



This duck has long, pointed wings, and a rather "long geared" appear- 

 ance when flying. Its quack is often repeated when it is on the wing, 

 and is somewhat shriller than the Mallard's. 



Mareca penelope (Linnaeus) 

 European Widgeon 



Plate 13 



Anas penelope Linnaeus. Syst. Nat. Ed. 10. 1758. 1:126 

 DeKav. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 346 

 A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. No. 136 



mare'ca, Brazilian name of teal; pene'lope, Gr. and Lat., wife of Ulvsses; 

 perhaps should be from penelops, Pliny's name for a kind of duck 



Description. Male: Crown creamy buff; throat black; rest of head 

 and neck ciiiiiamon-red mostly without green or spots; rest of phmiage very 

 similar to Mareca americana. Female and young: Head and neck 

 strongly tinged with cinnamon, otherwise like americana [see pi. 13]. 



The Widgeon, or English \vidgeon as sportsmen call it, is probably not 

 so rare as has been supposed in eastern North America. There are several 

 definite records for New York State, as follows: 



Long Island. (Found in Fulton Market). Dec. 3, 1842. Giraud, Birds of L. L, 

 p. 308-10; see also, Lawrence, N. O. C. Bui. 14: 190; Forest and Stream, 5: 339 



Southampton, L. L (Fulton Market). Jan. 6, 1873. N. T. Lawrence, N. 0. C. Bui. 

 3: 98; see also, Forest and Stream, 10: 235 



Ca5'uga lake, N. Y. May 1880. Fowler, Wright & Rathbun, O. & 0. 7: 133 

 Spring 1882. c" . (David Copcman). F. S. Wright 



Long Island. Winter 1899. Sanford, Bishop & Van Dyke. (Reference lost) 



Gardiners island, L. I. Xov. 27, 1901. X. T. Lawrence, Auk, 19: 196 

 " Feb. s, 1902. Braislin, Auk, 21: 288 



Cavuga marshes, N. Y. Several taken. Foster Parker 



Long Island. "Apparently breeding." Brewer, Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. Proc. 1858. 6:419 



Although we have been unable to find definite dates for specimens 

 taken on the Montezuma marshes, it is certain that several of this species 

 have been killed there b}- duck hunters during the last 20 years. The testi- 

 mony of my friend Mr Foster Parker, who saw these birds in the flesh, I 

 regard as conclusive. If sportsmen will keep a sharp lookovit for this duck 

 and report all instances of its occtirrence, I believe we shall find it almost 

 as common as the Gadwall in New York. 



