114 DUCK SHOOTING. 



should there be some birds present, as often happens, 

 which are heedless of all warnings or suspicious utter- 

 ings, and keep steadily on, with the evident intention to 

 settle among their supposed brethren, then, as they 

 gather together preparatory to alighting and the sports- 

 man rises in his ambush, suddenly the air is filled with 

 darting, climbing birds, who shoot off in every direc- 

 tion, but generally upward as if the flock was blown 

 asunder, and all disappear with a celerity that is aston- 

 ishing, and, to a nervous sportsman, with results that 

 are mortifying." 



Notwithstanding this watchfulness, widgeons often 

 come very nicely to decoys, and a passing flock, espe- 

 cially if it be small, may frequently be turned from its 

 course by a low, soft whistle and will swing into the de- 

 coys and drop in a series of beautiful curves until they 

 are almost over them. Then, however, the gunner must 

 waste no time in selecting his bird and holding properly 

 on it, for the widgeon is able to get out of danger with 

 considerable speed. 



This species is extremely common in California, 

 where it is eagerly sought after. In the Mississippi 

 Valley region it is not so abundant nor so greatly 

 esteemed, for there the mallard, on account of its 

 greater size, is preferred. 



The breeding grounds of the widgeon include the 

 whole of British America and Alaska, but its summer 

 home is rather in the western portion of North Amer- 

 ica and away from the seacoast. The eggs are creamy 

 white in color. 



