AVES — WIDGEON. 



669 



tion to the body, which also appears of a finer shape, and the wings longer. 

 The crown of the head towards the base of the bill is of a pale pink color, 

 inclining to a reddish white ; the other parts of the head and neck are red ; 

 the sides of the body and the upper part of the breast are tinctured with a 

 very fair, glossy, and beautiful claret color, with a few small transverse 

 lines of black. The feathers on the back are brown, the edges more pale 

 or ash colored ; the scapular feathers, and those under the fore part of the 

 wings, are finely variegated with small transverse black and white lines, 

 beautifully dispersed like waves ; the quill feathers are some of them brown, 

 with white tips, others have their outward webs of a blackish purple; other 

 parts, especially those beyond the covert feathers, of a lovely fine blue; 

 some of the exterior feathers have their outward webs inclining to black, 

 with a fine purple gloss upon the borders, on which there are a number of 



small light colored spots ; the rest of the wing feathers are of a beautiful 

 party-colored brown and white. The upper part of the tail is ash colored; 

 the under part, behind the vent, black. The legs and feet are of a dark lead 

 color, and the claws black. The young of both sexes are gray, and this hue 

 they retain till February, when the plumage of the male begins to assume 

 its variegated tints. He is said to retain his bright colors till ihe end of 

 July, and then to become dark and gray, so as scarcely to be distinguished 

 from the female. 



Widgeons are common in Camljridgeshire, England, the Isle of Ely, &c., 

 where the male is called the Widgeon, and the female the AVhewer. 

 They feed upon wild periwinkles, grass, weeds, &c., which grow at the 

 bottom of rivers and lakes. Their flesh has a fine taste. 



