338 AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
Their retrograde movements in spring, like those of other species, 
depend much upon the temperature or the advance of the season; and 
those which proceed northward set out on their journey much earlier 
than those which move in the opposite direction, the former departing 
from the middle of March to the 20th of April. ‘Their first appearance 
on the waters of the Ohio takes place late in September or early in 
October, when they at once throw themselves into the ponds of the in- 
terior, and there remain until the waters are closed by ice, scarcely any 
betaking themselves to the rivers, unless to repose on the sand-bars. 
They are there, however, less abundant than nearer the sea-coast, and 
usually associate with Pintails and ‘Teals, but rarely with Mallards or 
Dusky Ducks. Whilst in those retired ponds of the forest, from one 
to another of which they roam in quest of food, they are less noisy 
than most other species, even than the Pintails, and in this respect 
resemble the Blue-winged Teals, whose notes are feeble and delicate. 
Those of the Widgeon are a soft whistle somewhat similar to the word 
Sweet, enunciated as if produced by a flute or a hautboy, and in my 
judgment not at all like the hew hew spoken off by Wirson. They are 
less shy in those retired places than most species, or are to appearance 
less aware of the danger of allowing the sportsman to approach them. 
In feeding they immerse their neck and the anterior part of the 
body, generally swimming closer together than other Ducks, in conse- 
quence of which habits they are easily neared and often shot in great 
numbers at a single discharge. During their stay in those districts 
they feed on the roots and seeds of grasses, water-insects, beech-nuts, 
small fry, and leeches, and are not so delicate as an article of food 
as those procured in the rice-fields of South Carolina, or in the plan- 
tations of Louisiana and Florida. On their return in spring (for in 
mild winters they remain all the season in Kentucky), they generally 
continue until the end of April, and usually pair before they depart ; 
which induces me to believe that numbers of them breed within the 
northern limits of the United States, although I have not heard of any 
having actually been seen doing so. 
On the lakes near New Orleans, as well as on the Chesapeake, they 
are not unfrequently found in company with the Canvass-back Ducks. 
Witson mentions their being partially supplied with food by the in- 
dustry of the latter ; but they manage very well in most parts without 
such assistance. When in fuli security, the Bald-pates feed at all 
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