THE WIDGEON tt$ 



its diet mainly consists of aquatic insects, molluscs, etc., varied 

 with vegetation there and also on land, also feeding on slugs and 

 other pests lurking in grass. It also fattens on the scattered grain 

 of cornfields, and is well known for the delicacy of its flesh. Teal 

 ducks are caught in decoys and shot by similar subterfuges, like the 

 mallards. 



The WIDGEON (Mareca Penelope) , Fig. 74, included in the Ana- 

 tidae or Ducks, and belonging to the sub-family Anatinae of the 

 True Ducks, is distinguished by the bill being uniformly broad 

 throughout, and the laminae or fringes very prominent. In the males 



FIG. 74. THE WIDGEON. 



the head and neck are rich chestnut in colour, with the exception 

 of a yellowish cream colour band passing from the forehead over 

 the crown ; the breast is pale red, and the under-parts white ; 

 back is greyish- white, with irregular black lines ; primaries dusky 

 brown, speculum glossy green, and the tail nearly black. The 

 average length is about 20 in. The female is less brightly 

 coloured than the male, being ruddy brown on the head and neck, 

 with darker markings, the back being brown and the abdomen white. 

 The male loses his brilliant colours after the breeding season. 



The widgeons arrive in Britain from the north in September 

 or October and then assemble in large flocks. They migrate north- 

 ward in March and April, and appear to pass the summer for breed- 

 ing purposes in Norway and Sweden. The nest is usually composed 

 of decayed grass, leaves, or rushes, lined with the soft feathers 

 plucked from the breast of the parent bird, and is placed near water, 

 usually among the substances of which it is composed. As the 

 flesh of the widgeon is very delicate, the bird feeding almost exclu- 

 sively on a vegetable diet, it is much sought after for the table. 



