AMERICAN WIDGEON. II3 



up a continuous whistling alarms all the other ducks 

 in the vicinity and consequently renders itself very dis- 

 agreeable and at times a considerable nuisance to the 

 sportsman. However, its flesh is so tender and palat- 

 able and it is such a pretty and gamy bird that one is 

 inclined to forgive many of its apparent shortcomings. 

 The usual note of this duck is a low, soft whistle, very 

 melodious in quality, and when on the wing the mem- 

 bers of a flock keep continually talking to each other in 

 this sweet tone as they speed along. They fly very rap- 

 idly and usually high in the air in a long, outstretched 

 line, all abreast, except perhaps the two ends are a little 

 behind the center bird, who may be considered the 

 leader. When only moving from place to place in the 

 marsh, and but a short distance above the ground, they 

 proceed usually without any order or regularity, re- 

 minding one sometimes of a flock of pigeons. The 

 pinions are moved with much quickness and the long 

 primaries give a sharp-pointed shape to the wing that 

 causes the birds to be easily recognized. Flocks com- 

 posed of a number of widgeon and sprig-tail are often 

 seen, and the combination is a very unfavorable one to 

 a sportsman hoping for a quiet shot at close range. 



"As the birds approach the decoys some widgeon will 

 whistle and edge out to one side, as much as to say, *It 

 may be all right, but I don't like the looks of it,' and he 

 will be followed by another suspicious member. Then 

 the pintails become uneasy and begin to climb and look 

 down into the blind, and the patient watcher sees the 

 flocks too often sheer ofif to one side and pass by. But 



