WILD FOWL. Ill 



thickly speckled with black, very little rufous on the breast ; the 

 back is dark-brown. The young males, as usual, very much 

 like the females during the first season, and do not receive their 

 full plumage until the second year. They are also subject to a 

 regular change every spring and autumn. 



" This species is closely allied to the European Widgeon, and 

 may be taken as the American analogue. They seem to meet 

 each other about the arctic circle; that of America extending 

 beyond it, and that of Europe reaching to the European verge. 

 They will form the types of Stephens's genus Mareca, which will 

 probably stand in the rank of a more subordinate group only. 

 The form is one of considerable interest, possessing many com- 

 binations, which may be found to connect some parts of the 

 natural system. The bird of Europe, except in the breeding 

 season, is mostly an inhabitant of the sea-shore ; during a severe 

 winter, a few stray inland to the larger lakes and rivers, but as 

 soon as a recurrence of moderate weather takes place, they re- 

 turn to their more favorite feeding grounds. In Britain they 

 are mostly migratory, and at the first commencement of our 

 harder weather, are found in vast flocks on the flatter coasts, 

 paiticularly where there are beds of muscles and other shell-fish. 

 During day, they rest and plume themselves on the higher 

 shelves, or doze buoyant on the waves, and only commence their 

 activity with the approach of twilight. At this time they become 

 clamorous, and rising in dense flocks from their day's resort, 

 proceed to the feeding grounds, generally according to the wind 

 in the same tract. At the commencement of winter they are fat 

 and delicate, much sought after by the sea sportsmen, and are 

 killed in numbers by persons lying in watch in the track of the 

 known flight, or what in some parts is called slaking. The most 

 pr )pitious night for this sport is about half moon, and strong 

 wind ; the birds then fly low, and their approach is easily 

 known by the whistling of their wings and their own shrill cry ; 

 w ence their coast name of Hciv. They are subject to an annual 

 change of plumage. Mr. Ord mentions, that a few of these 

 birds breed annually in the marshes in the neighborhood of 



