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AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
AnAés AMERICANA, GMEL. 
PLATE CCCXLV. Mate anp FEMALE. 
Tuts lively and very handsome Duck is abundant during winter at 
New Orleans, where it is much esteemed on account of the juiciness of 
its flesh, and is best known by the name of Zinzin. In the Western 
Country, and in most parts of the Eastern and Middle States, it is 
called the Bald Pate. Early in September it enters the United States 
by their northern extremities, as well as from the Texas; and in both 
these regions it is now well known to breed in nearly equal numbers. 
Those which retreat south-westward remain along the coast and in the 
interior of the Floridas, as well as all that portion of the Gulf of 
Mexico extending to the mouths of the Mississippi, where they remain 
until the latter part of April, sometimes even until the middle of May, 
as they have but a comparatively short journey to perform in order to 
arrive in Mexico in time to breed. On the coast of the Atlantic they 
keep in the marshes in company with various species of the same family, 
being in a manner indifferent as to their associates. During early 
spring, in Louisiana, they are often seen alighted on extensive plains 
that have very little water on them. 
While advancing along the shores of the Bay of Mexico, in April 
1837, I and my party observed this species in considerable numbers : 
and during the whole of our stay in the Texas, we daily saw and very 
frequently procured Widgeons. There they were found in ponds of 
brackish water, as well as in the fresh-water streams. Before we left 
that country they were all paired, and I was informed by the Honour- 
able M. Fisuer, Secretary to the Texian Navy, that a good number of 
them breed in the maritime districts, along with several other Ducks, 
and that he annually received many of the young birds. Their man- 
ners at this time fully proved the correctness of the statements of all 
those who spoke to me on this subject. Indeed my opinion is that 
some of these birds also propagate in certain portions of the most south- 
ern districts of the Floridas, and in the Island of Cuba, as I have seen 
Widgeons in the peninsula in single pairs, in the beginning of May. 
VOL. IV. ¥ 
