524 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSEKES. 



exhibits a greater preference for rivers and open lakes than most of the other fresh- 

 water Ducks, which prefer the grassy lakes and marshes. Most of the uests which 

 Mr. Kennicott observed were near rivers in places not frequented by other Ducks, 

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

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

 ity of water, he found the Widgeon always breeding at some considerable distance 

 from it. Several of the nests obtained on the Yidion were fully half a mile from 

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

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

 quently among thick spruces. The nest is rather small — simply a depression among 

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

 eggs are covered when left by the parent. The nest is usually placed at the foot of 

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

 from her nest, rises silently into the air, and usually flies to the nearest water, though 

 sometimes she will alight on the ground a few rods distant. The males remain more 

 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 young, 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 oi^en feeding-places, where they obtain 

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

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

 middle of September. Mr. Kennicott several times found perfect 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 Cliesapeake 

 about the last of October. 



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

 vallisnerlu grass, the Bald-pates 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 Bald-pate is 

 considered preferable to that of even the far-famed Canvas-backs. Of all the ducks 

 that are fouud 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 hunters as 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 companion of the Canvas- 

 backs, upon whose superiority in diving it depend.s in a large degree for its food, 

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

 plant of which both are so fond. Wlu'u in good condition the flesh of the Bald-pate 

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

 birds killed on other waters, though excellent eating, are far inferior to those from 

 the flats of the Chesapeake. The Bald-pate is said to visit the rice-fields of the South 

 during the winter in considerable numbers. 



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

 breediug-season are the Yukon Eiver and Fort Yukon, by Mr. J. Lockhart and Mr. 

 S. Jones ; Fort Resolution, by j\Ir. Kennicott ; Fort Anderson, Anderson Eiver, the 

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

 Donald Gunn ; Nulato and the Lower Yukon, by Mr. Dall ; New Westminster, by 

 Mr. H. W. Elliott. 



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

 2.15 to 2.20 inches, and from 1.45 to 1.50 in breadth. 



