WIDGEON 
177 
no evidence that the species has ever bred in North America, though I am inclined to think that 
it may do so. 
Migration 
The migration of the Widgeon offers no peculiarities. Representative dates show that it arrives 
in the south of Europe in late February or early March; in western France, middle February; north- 
ern Italy, early March; Switzerland, late February; Tyrol, late February; Rumania, late February. 
Farther north it arrives in March in Lorraine and in Germany. In Hungary, March 10 (average of 
fifteen years, 1895-1911); Kief, Russia, early April. Still farther north dates of arrival are: Iceland, 
May 4; eastern Finland, May 15; Lapland, May 31 ; Petrograd, April; Petchora, May 19. In autumn, 
a few, probably young birds, arrive in Italy as early as late August, but most pass through Europe in 
the central sections during late October or early November. There are various reports of small 
flocks on the Scottish coasts in August. They leave Iceland mostly in late September or early October, 
while at Petrograd a few appear in late August. In southern Europe some arrive as late as the last of 
November. In Asia practically the same conditions are found, though in spring on the arctic coast 
some of the birds do not arrive until early June, and it may be said that in general the spring migra- 
tion is a week or two later in Asia than it is in Europe. Information concerning the autumn migra- 
tion in Asia is very meager. 
A little work has been done in Germany with marked Widgeon. One specimen banded in Holland 
in summer was taken in winter 625 kilometers southwest on the French coast. Another similarly 
marked, was taken on the Dutch coast 250 kilometers from the marking point. A more interesting 
record is that of a specimen marked in Holland in July, 1910, that was taken in the autumn of 1911 in 
northern Finland perhaps indicating that the birds of passage on the coasts of western Europe breed 
farther east in the lands of the northern Baltic. A young specimen marked by Thomson (1911) in 
Sutherland, Scotland, in June, 1909, was taken in northeastern Holland in September of that year, a 
significant record; another young bird marked in the same way was taken on the River Trent, Eng- 
land, in January, 1911. One ringed in Warwick, England, October, 1915, was recovered in April, 
1918, at Uralsk, north of the Caspian Sea by an officer in the Ural Cossack army. This points to 
a remarkable east-and-west dispersal of about 2000 miles. Two young, hand-reared birds, marked 
in Cumberland, England, were recovered near the same place in the autumn of the following 
year. 
Everything indicates a definite sex migration in the Widgeon, females and young of the year work- 
ing south first and wintering in the southern parts of the winter range. Old males migrate much 
later and winter farther north. 
GENERAL HABITS 
Haunts. Widgeon may be regarded as somewhat apart from other surface-feeders, 
being more gooselike perhaps, but at the same time having something in common 
with the Pintail and Teal. The European Widgeon, although so similar in appear- 
ance to the American bird, is dififerent in its habits, for the nature of the coasts 
where it winters and its dependence upon eel-grass for its main food have made it 
almost maritime. No doubt it was once much more of a fresh-water bird in western 
Europe than it is now. All Widgeon like broad waters, and are not particularly 
partial to marshes and pond-holes. They are very particular about feeding condi- 
tions, and hence are local in their distribution, occurring in great masses where the 
height of the water and the depth of the food are suited to their needs. On their 
