DESCRIPTIVE LIST 63 



The species is well known on Currituck, where it goes by the name of "Creek 

 Duck," though it is by no means abundant there. On Lake Ellis it seems to occur 

 regularly, though not commonly. H. H. Brimley killed one there in the fall of 

 1906, and took two more on November 1, 1911. On this latter date an additional 

 specimen was secured by another member of the party. 



As it mostly occurs with us in the winter plumage, it is usually passed over in a 

 bunch of dead fowl as a small female Mallard, and its abundance is, therefore, prob- 

 ably greater than our scanty records would indicate. 



Genus Mareca (Steph.) 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Head and neck rusty or rufous. European Widgeon. 

 1. Head and neck whitish or creamy. Baldpate. 



45. Mareca penelope (Linn.). EUROPEAN WIDGEON. 



Ad. c?. Crown creamy buff; throat blackish, rest of head and neck rufous-brown; upper 

 breast vinaceous, lower breast and belly white; sides and back finely marked with wavy black 

 and white lines. Ad. ? . Head and throat deep ochraceous-buff, finely streaked and barred 

 with black, darker above; upper breast and sides much the same color, but without black 

 markings; lower breast and belly white; back grayish brown, the feathers with small ochraceous 

 buffy bars; tertials fuscous, bordered by deep ochraceous bufly, greater wing-coverts brownish 

 gray, usually whiter on the outer webs and tipped with black. W., 10.50; B., 1.40. 



FIG. 37. EUROPEAN WIDGEON (adult male). 



Remarks. The females of the European and American Widgeons bear a general resemblance 

 to one another. Their distinguishing characters are mainly in the color of the head and 

 throat, which are browner in the European species, and in the color of the greater wing-coverts, 

 which are whiter in the American bird. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Northern portions of Old World, occasional in America. 



Range in North Carolina. 'Has been taken in Currituck Sound. 



This wanderer from the Old World is rare in the United States, and when found 

 is usually in company with the American Widgeon. It is of accidental occurrence 



