208 
ANAS SIBILATRIX 
thirteen eggs being 58 by 40 mm. The exact incubation period appears to be un- 
known, but it is probably the same as that of the other Widgeon, namely, twenty- 
four days. Mr. Wormald’s captive-laid eggs hatched in twenty-three to twenty -five 
days. In the Berlin Gardens a Brown Pintail that was paired with a Chiloe Widgeon 
took twenty-four days to hatch the eggs (Heinroth, 1908). 
A characteristic of the present species is the fact that the male seems to concern 
himself with the young. This of course is not the case with the European Widgeon 
or the Baldpate, and has some connection with the fact that in the Chiloe Widgeon 
both sexes have the gaudy plumage. Heinroth (1911) noted that a male mated with 
a female of the Brown Pintail took a great interest in the young, and he says the 
attachment between the sexes in this species is particularly noticeable. The males, 
he asserts, will even protect the young of other species. Mr. Peters, however, did not 
find any male in the vicinity of a nest which he took in western Patagonia early in 
November, so that we do not yet know whether the male always stays with the 
brood. I suspect, however, that such is the case. 
Status. Of this we know nothing accurate. All ducks have diminished in 
Argentina, especially in the Province of Buenos Aires. While J. L. Peters was col- 
lecting in northwestern Patagonia and a few other points in Argentina he estimated 
that this duck ranked about 5 to 10% of all ducks. The Brown Pintail outnumbered 
the Widgeon at least ten to one and represented at least 80 to 85% of the duck 
population of those regions. The Widgeon ranked second to the Pintail and was 
next to the Varied Teal (Anas versicolor). 
Enemies. In northwestern Patagonia, Peters did not find enemies of water-fowl 
common. The only hawks there, a marsh hawk and a Buteo or hen hawk, did not 
disturb ducks. The former was living on small rodents and the latter on lizards. 
The crow tribe w'as not represented at all and fish were absent from the sloughs and 
marshes. A Caracara Eagle, which he saw attack a small lamb, might possibly 
take ducks at times, but from the nature of the bird this seems doubtful. 
Damage. Nothing recorded. 
Food Value. Like the other Widgeon this species is highly valued as an article 
of food (de Beauquesne, 1911; and others), and is as good eating as any Argentine 
duck (Peters, MS.). 
Hunt. Little need be said on this point. Its excellent flesh makes the bird a 
very desirable addition to the bag, but it is so wary that a sportsman may feel justi- 
fiable pride in bringing in one or two (E. Gibson, 1920). Still, in winter it is regularly 
