WARM-WEATHER BIRDS. 29 
some years plentiful, others quite scarce. It is only 
during the migrations they are seen in flocks; after- 
ward they are split up and mix greatly with other 
river ducks. During the fall migration, they appear 
in little flocks upon our northern boundary, but drift 
slowly through the states, staying for a short or long 
period, as food is abundant or not. 
Their feeding grounds are upon the large open 
muddy flats, on shallow lakes, on mud bars of rivers, 
ponds and sloughs. Their playing grounds are on 
any piece of open water, which is shallow and con- 
tains rushes, weeds and brush. They roost in shallow 
grassy lakes, ponds, sloughs, musquaids and mud flats ; 
on rivers and bottom lands. Their clutch is from ten to 
fourteen eggs, of a dirty white color with yellowish 
tinge. 
For food and nesting grounds, see chart. 
Their broad pectinated bills serve as a sieve, to 
separate the mud from their various foods. Their flesh 
is rather fishy in the spring, but excellent in the fall. 
Length 20.00; wing 9.50; tarsus 1.40; extent 32.50; 
middle toe 1.70. 
SuscGENus Mareca. 
Anas Americana—BALD-PATE, AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
—Habitat—North America at large, south to West 
India Islands and Central America. The first issue 
of this handsome duck in the spring occurs long after 
the ice has disappeared and about the same time that 
the bluebills appear. They soon pass on to the north 
and the second issue follows in a few days, which stay 
longer, traveling up to the lower and middle parts of 
