524 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



exhibits a greater preference for rivers and oj)en liikos than most of the other fresh- 

 water Ducks, which ])refer the grassy hikes and nuuslies. Most of the nests wliieh 

 3lr. Kennioott obsei,>.. were near rivers in places not frequented by other Ducks, 

 except sometimes by the MaHard. The favorite situation for the nest is remarkable ; 

 for while the other Ducks — except, jierhaps, the Teal — choose the immediate vicin- 

 ity of water, he found the AVidgeon always breeding at sonu^ considerable distance 

 from it. Several of the nests obtained on tlu' Yukon were fully half a mile from 

 the river — the nearest water. He invariably found the nest among dry leaves, upon 

 high, dry ground, cither under large trees or in thick groves of small ones — fre- 

 quently among thick spruces. The nest is rather small — simjjly a dej)ression among 

 the leaves — but thickly lined with down, with which, after incubation is begun, the 

 eggs are covered when left by the parent. The nest is usually i)laced at tlie foot of 

 a tree or bush, with generally no attempt at concealment. The fenuile, when started 

 from her nest, ri.ses silently into the air. and usually Hies to the nearest water, though 

 sometimes she will alight on the ground a few rods distant. The males renuiin nuire 

 or less in the vicinity for some time after the females begin to incubate ; but when 

 the time of moulting arrives they retire to the grassy marshes and edges of lakes for 

 concealment, leading a solitary life. The yoving, while unable to fly, are frequently 

 found seeking the shelter of grassy lakes. As soon, however, as they can fly they 

 return to their favorite river-shores and open feeding-places, where they obtain 

 aquatic insects, a few small shells, and tiic seeds and roots of various plants. In the 

 fall the broods often sejjarate before leaving for the south ; this they do about the 

 middle of September. Mr. Kennieott several times found perf. st eggs of this spe- 

 cies—though never of any other Duck — dropped along the shores of rivers, at their 

 feeding-places. This bird is said to make its first appearance on the Chesapeake 

 about the last of Octoljer. 



While the Canvas-backs and the Black-heads dive and ]pull up by the roots the 

 vallisnerid grass, the IJald-itates manage to obtain their full share of it, and at times 

 succeed in robbing them of the whole. At this time the flavor of the liald-jiate is 

 considered preferable to that of even the far-fanu'd Canvas-backs. Of all the ducks 

 that are found in the Chesapeake, the Widgeon is said to be one of the most difficult 

 to attract to the shore by the process known as "toling." In wing-shooting it is 

 regarded by the Inciters ius a great nuisance. It is not only so shy that it avoids the 

 points of land, but by its whistling and confused manner of flight it alarms the other 

 species. During its stay in those waters it is the constant com))anion of the Canvas- 

 backs, upon whose superiority in diving it dejjcnds in ;> large degree for its food, 

 stealing from them, as they rise to tlie surface of the water, the tender roots of the 

 plant of which lK)th are so fond. When in good condition the flesh of the liald-pate 

 cannot easily be distinguished from that of the Canvas-back. It is also thought that 

 birds killed on other waters, tho\igh excellent eating, are far inferior to those from 

 the flats of the Chesaiieake. The liald-jjate is said to visit the rice-lields of the South 

 during the winter in considerable numbers. 



The places in the northern regions from Avhich this Duck has been reported in its 

 breeding-sea.son are the Yukon liiver ami Kort Yukon, by .Mr. J. Loekhart and 3Ir. 

 S. Jones; Fort Resolution, by Mr. Kennieott; Fort Anderson, Ander.son River, tlie 

 Lower Anderson. Swan River, etc., by JFr. MacFarlane ; Selkirk Settlement, by Mr. 

 Donald Gunn ; Nulat') anil the Lower Yukon, by jMr. Dall ; New Westminster, by 

 Mr. H. W. Elli. ■ .. 



The eggs of this species are of a creamy ivory wliite color, and vary in length from 

 2.1/i to 2.20 inches, and from 1.4i» to 1.50 in breadth. 



