ENGLISH WU>GF.ON. 445 



on nil but Inst, with dark-brown. Remainder of upper parts, durk-brown, finely Imndcd on buck with yellow bill-white. 

 Outer webs of Mv-piilariis, velvety-black margined with whiti-di. Greater upper wing C'jverts, under parts, and flunks, 

 while, the lirst lijipcd with Mark. I'ndrr wing coverts und lesser upper coverts, ashy. Speculum and under tail coverts, 

 black, tlie former ashy nluve and glossed anteriorly with greenish. Bill, bluish; feet, black, and iris, brown. 



Adult female. Similar, but lacks the white crown and iridescence on head. The white of greater wing coverts is re- 

 placed by iishy and the barrings above are coarser. The under tail coverts are brown banded with white, and the other 

 colors are paler. Youny. Resemble the adult female. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the spotted head and neck and black and green speculum. Distributed in summer throughout the North 

 and North-west; wintering from New Jersey, southward. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 19*75; stretch, 32*75; wing, 10'35; tail. I' 10; bill, 

 1*45; tarsus, Hi5. Longest specimen, 21*75; greatest extent of wing, 35'50; longest wing, 11*25; tail, 4 20, bill, T50; tarsus, 

 1-80. Shortest specimen, 17*76; smallest extent of wing, 30*00; shortest wing, 9*50; tail, 4*00; bill, 1*40; tarsus, 1*50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of sticks, weeds, etc. Eggs, six to ten in number, elliptical 

 in form, and brownish-buff in color. Dimensions from r 30x2*00 to 1*50x2*10. 



HABITS. 



The American Widgeons are not very common throughout the northern portion of (he 

 eastern section of North America during migrations, but occur in considerable numbers in 

 the South in winter, and I have found them quite abundant in the mouths of the rivers that 

 flow into the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Florida. Here they occurred in flocks, 

 in company with the Scaup and other Ducks. They were, however, rather shy, when com- 

 pared with other members of the order, but did not differ in general habits from most of 

 the Ducks which inhabit rivers. - 



MARECA PENELOPE. 



English Widgeon. 



Mareca penelope BON., List; 1838. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Size, not very large. Form, robust. COLOR. Adult male. Top of head, yellowish-white. Sides of head 

 and neck all around, cliestnut-red, spotted irregularly and sparcely with black, excepting in front, where the ground 

 n>lur is nearly obscured with it, and the spots around eye show greenish reflections. Back and sides, dark-brown, finely 

 banded with white. Upper tail coverts, whitish with ashy centers, the outer margined with black. Wings and tail, 

 dark-brown, the latter edged with white. Lesser wing coverts, ashy; greater, white tipped with black. Outer webs of 

 scapularies, black, edged with white. Speculum, black with greenish reflections on anterior portion. Axillaries and un- 

 der wing coverts, ashy, banded with white. The upper breast and sides are chestnut-red tinged with ashy. The under 

 tail covens are black. Remainder of under parts, white. Iris, brown; bill and feet, bluish. 



Adult female. General color above, reddish-brown, with the feathers edged with whitish and centrally spotted with 

 dark-brown. Speculum, gray, surrounded, excepting below, with white. The under tail coverts are white, banded with 

 brown. Otherwise similar to the adult male. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The male may be known by the chestnut-red head and black and green speculum. The female, by the gray speculum 

 and reddish-brown sides. Constant resident in Europe. Rare on the Eastern coast of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average me:i<urements of specimens. Length, 19*00; stretch, 33*50; wing, 10-00; tail4'25; bill, 1*55; tarsus, 1*56. 

 Longest specimen, 20 00; greatest extent of wing, 34*00; longest wing, 10'5O; tail, 4*50; bill, 1 HO; tarsus, 1*65. Shortest 

 specimen, 18 00; smallest extent of wing, 33*00; shortest wing, 9*50; tail, 4'00; bill, 1*50; tarsus, 1*53. 



DESC'RII'TloN OF MISTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass and weeds. Eyys from five to eight in number, oval 

 in form, creamy-buff in color. Dimensions from 1*40x2-20 to 1-50x2*50. 



HABITS. 



The English Widgeon, a well-known European species, although formally considered 

 as only accidental on our eastern coiist, is really a regular visitant, some being taken cv- 



