522 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AN SERES. 



nape with the black of the throat. All the other characters of the species are very much exagger- 

 ated in this specimen. Younger specimens, just possessed of the adult dress, are usually distin- 

 guished by having the white wing-covert patch clouded with ash, the green of the head poorly 

 defined, and the white of the forehead more or less speckled. 



Female. 



The Bald-pate, or American Widgeou, is distributed nearly throughout North 

 America, is found in winter as far to the south as Central America, and in sum- 

 mer goes to high northern latitudes to breed. It is a straggler to Europe, specimens 

 having been taken in the London markets. In its migrations it passes through the 



interior as well as along the coast. At Lake 

 Koskonong, Wis., Mr. Kumlien has found it 

 abundant both in the spring and fall. A few 

 remain in the lake during the .summer, but these 

 are always in flocks, unmated, and in imma- 

 ture plumage. No broods of young have been 

 met witli. 



Mr. Salvin found this Duck common on the 

 Lake of Atitlan, where it was seen in May, 

 1858; and it was also observed near the vil- 

 lage of Laguna, about a day's journey from 

 Guatemala. Mr. Salvin afterward met with it 

 also among the lagoons on the Pacific coast. 

 It was found abundant on the eastern coast of 

 Mexico and on the southern coast of Texas by 

 Mr. Dresser ; and Colonel Grayson found it 

 abundant on the coast of Western Mexico, near 

 Mazatlan, from November until late in spring. 

 It occurs more or less numerously in most of the West India Islands, having been 

 noted in St. Thomas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Trinidad. In the last-named island it is 

 said by Leotaud to arrive in December and January, leaving for the north in April ; 

 but in some years is not met with. Its flesh is held in high esteem, esf)ecially when 

 the birds are young, and after they have been for some time on the island. 



Mr. Hearne states that this Duck was, a century ago, a very ixncommon visitor 

 to Hudson's Bay. It usually kept in pairs, being rarely seen in flocks, and was 

 most frequently observed in rivers and marshes near the sea-coast. Mr. Ross found 

 it common on the Mackenzie ; and Captain Blakiston also met with it in Hudson's 

 Bay, and saw it in large numbers on the Saskatchewan. It occiu's in the spring and 

 fall near Calais, Me. — where, however, Mr. Boardman regards it as rather rare. It is 

 an occasional, rather than a common, visitor to New England. According to Giraud, 

 it is not numerous on Long Island, though so abundant farther south. 



Mr. Allen found this bird quite common in the valley of the Salt Lake ; Mr. E. 

 Browne mentions its occurrence on Vancouver Island ; and Mr. Dall found it not 

 uncommon near Nulato and on the Yukon, but rare at St. Michael's. Its eggs and 

 nests were not distinguishable from those of the Dafila acuta, but the bird is less 

 active than that species, and slower in flight. 



On the coast of Norton Sound — according to Mr. Adams — the Widgeon does not 

 arrive until the 12tli of May ; but later a considerable number were always to be met 

 with about the inland marshes. It appeared to live very much ux)on insects, which 

 it captures on the water and about the rushes. The small inland lakes were its prin- 

 cipal places of resort, and its nests were generally upon the grassy banks. The eggs 



