AMERICAN WIDGEON " BALD PATE." 169 



Length to end of tail, 18 inches ; extent of wings, 

 30 inches ; weight, 1 pound 5 ounces. 



The habits and peculiarities of the widgeon are sim- 

 ilar to those of the pin-tail and mallard, although they 

 do not frequent the timber as the mallards do, but pre- 

 fer remaining out in the open field and prairies. When 

 spring rains overflow low lands, spreading on the sur- 

 face of the water the accumulations of winter, then one 

 can expect to find the widgeon in large numbers, asso- 

 ciating with pin-tails and mallards. They are an ex- 

 ceedingly shy duck to shoot on the water, either from 

 scull or paddle boat ; but when coaxed down by imitat- 

 ing their cries, they come down from great heights 

 with graceful abandon, and perfectly unsuspicious of 

 danger, drop softly in among the wooden decoys. They 

 are an easy bird to kill when hit, and they seem to lack 

 that vitality so noticeable in several other species of 

 ducks. It isn't necessary to have decoys of the same 

 kind, mallards doing almost equally as well. They are 

 always in good condition for the table, and are most 

 excellent eating. 



No. 6 shot is the best size to use. 



