THE WIDGEON. 587 



Nest, on the ground near water, of grasses lined with feathers. Eggs, 8-12, 

 pale buffy or clay-colored. Av. size, 2.09 x 1.57 (53.1 x 39.9). 



General Range. Nearly cosmopolitan. In North America breeds chiefly 

 within the United States. 



Range in Ohio. Rare migrant. Formerly and possibly still summer resi- 

 dent. 



THE apparent scarcity 'of this species is doubtless to be attributed in 

 part to its excessive timidity and cunning secretiveness. But perhaps at 

 best it is to be regarded as the least common of those river ducks whose 

 appearance in our state is anything more than accidental. 



The Gadwall remains, for the most part, closely secreted by day in the 

 reeds or high grasses which border our lakes and river lagoons, venturing 

 out only at dusk and feeding throughout the night. Its food seems to be 

 largely vegetable, the leaves and roots of aquatic plants and river flotsam, 

 obtained by diving or dabbling. It is not, however, averse to varying its 

 diet with occasional insects and small fish. Not infrequently it feeds at 

 considerable distance from water, in stubble-fields and the like, after the 

 fashion of the Mallard. Such visits are, however, strictly nocturnal. Be- 

 cause of its careful feeding the flesh of this duck is highly prized for the table. 



The nesting of the Gadwall has been reported by Mr. Charles Dury from 

 the Grand Reservoir. It breeds sparingly wherever found, but its better 

 known haunts are the sloughs of the northwestern prairie states. The nest 

 is said to be always placed on dry ground, but not very far from water. "A 

 hollow is scooped in the ground and well lined with strips or pieces of reeds, 

 bits of dry grass and weed stems, or whatever material can be most easily 

 gathered in the vicinity, mixed with down from the bird's breast and pro- 

 fusely lined with dark gray down around the eggs." 1 Ten or eleven eggs 

 are commonly laid. The birds are close sitters, but even then great care must 

 he taken to distinguish them from the more common Baldpate. 



No. 285. 



WIDGEON. 



A. O. U. No. 136. Mareca penelope (Linn.). 



Synonyms. EUROPEAN WIDGEON; WIGEON. 



Description. Adult male : Similar to that of next species, but top of head 

 creamy buffy or buffy instead of white, green wanting or showing only in traces : 

 throat blackish ; rest of head and neck rufous-brown. Adult female : Similar to next 

 species, but head and neck deeper ochraceous-buff or rusty 1 . Size of next. 



1 A. C. Bent, "Nesting Habits of the Anatidae in North Dakota." The Auk, Vol. XVIII. p. 333. 



