BALD PATES (Mareca americana), that 

 is, the drakes, are quite handsomely plum- 

 aged, as our picture shows. The name is 

 bestowed because of the white crown, simi- 

 larly as the Bald Eagle is so named, even 

 though it is not in any respect bald. Some 

 sportsmen prefer to term this species the 

 "Widgeon," but since that is the name of 

 the common European bird, the present one 

 is better for this species. 



These birds are found, in the proper sea- 

 sons, throughout North America, breeding 

 chiefly in the interior, from the Arctic Circle 

 south as far as Texas. They winter in the 

 southern half of the United States and, while 

 abundant on the South Atlantic coast, occur 

 en the New England coast only casually 

 during migrations. 



They are quite highly esteemed as table 

 birds, for their food is almost wholly of vege- 

 table matter. They delight in accompany- 

 ing flocks of Canvasbacks, Redheads or 

 other deep-diving ducks, as they can feed 

 upon the roots which, loosened by these 

 birds, float to the surface. 



EUROPEAN WIDGEONS (Mareca penel- 

 ope) are of the same size as the last species, 

 about 20 inches in length, and similar in 

 plumage except for the head, which is rusty 

 brown with a buff -colored crown. This is a 

 common Old World species that quite often 

 occurs in eastern North America. 



GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Nettion carolinense). Although the smallest 

 of our ducks, measuring but 14 inches in length, this species, which is some- 

 times called "Winter Teal" because it mi- 

 grates later in fall and earlier in spring than 

 the next, is very attractive both in plum- 

 age and actions. It nests on the ground, 

 chiefly north of the United States border, 

 but locally south to Colorado. 



They are very active, swift of flight, 

 capable of diving deep and of springing 

 from the water in full flight. 



10 



v- 



BALDPATE ( ? , 5 ) 

 GREEN-WINGED TEAL 



