388 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



farther eastward than Massachusetts. It breeds in the fur 

 countries, but on its return, follows the coast of the great wes- 

 tern rivers, and is so much a stranger to the coast, that it must 

 be regarded as an inland bird. It arrives from the north in 

 autumn, in good condition, and resorts to ponds and streams, 

 where it feeds on tadpoles, leeches, and beechnuts, should they 

 happen to abound. It is graceful in its motions on the water, 

 and Audubon says that its notes are soft and pleasant, not re- 

 sembling those of the mallard, to which they are often com- 

 pared. 



The American Widgeon, A?ias Americana, breeds in the 

 fur countries, and, on its return, is found in most parts of the 

 Union. About Chesapeake Bay, it is a companion rather than 

 friend of the canvass-back, which dives for the plants on which 

 it feeds. The widgeon, which likes the plant, but not the 

 diving, watches the moment of the canvass-back's rising, and 

 before its eyes are fairly opened, it snatches the plant from 

 its mouth and makes oif with it. The widgeon is found in 

 the interior, as well as on the coast ; many spend the winter in 

 the southern states. 



The Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, sometimes called the black 

 duck, is, as Dr. Brewer inforrhs me, the most common of all 

 the species in the neighborhood of Boston. They are met 

 with on the coast, from Florida to Labrador, but are not found 

 in the high northern regions. They frequent salt marshes as 

 well as inland waters, and their food consists of small shellfish 

 and seeds. In the daytime, they are retired and shy ; but on 

 the report of a gun, they rise in great numbers and disperse in 

 all directions. They fly high in calm weather, and low when 

 the wind blows hard, when the gunners conceal themselves in 

 the grass and shoot them down. Their flesh is said to be equal 

 to that of the other ducks, when they have been well fed, but 

 it generally has something of the flavor of its food. This bird 

 breeds in this State in fresh water marshes and on sea islands ; 

 the eggs are eight or ten in number, resembling those of the 



