THE AMERICAN WIDGEON. 81 



trip far more difficult and tedious than the facilities af- 

 forded by the Erie Railroad and the noble steamers on 

 the lakes now render a visit to those glorious sporting- 

 grounds. 



THE AMERICAN WIDGEON, the bird which is represented 

 as falling headforemost with collapsed wings, shot per- 

 fectly dead without a struggle, in the accompanying 

 woodcut, while the Mallard goes off safely, quacking at 

 the top of his voice in strange terror, though nearly allied 

 to the European species, is yet perfectly distinct, and 

 peculiar to this continent. 



It is thus accurately described by Mr. Girand, although 

 but an unfrequent visitor of the Long Island bays and 

 shores : 



"Bill short, the color light grayish blue; speculum 

 green, banded with black. Under wing coverts white. 

 Adult male with the coral space, sides of the head, under 

 the eye, upper part of the neck and throat brownish 

 white, spotted with black. A broad band of white, com- 

 mencing at the base of the upper mandible; passing over 

 the crown." It is this mark which has procured the bird 

 its general provincial appellation of " Baldpate." " Be- 

 hind the eye a broad band of bright green, extending 

 backward on the hind neck about three inches ; the 

 feathers on the nape rather long ; lower neck and sides 

 of the breast, with a portion of the upper part of the 

 breast reddish brown. Best of the lower parts white, 

 excepting a patch of black at the base of the tail. Under 

 4* 



