GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 381 



in winter ; northern limits of Neotropical region in winter. Breeds 

 in the Arctic regions of America from Alaska to the Hudson Bay 

 basin, as far north as lat. 70°, and probably as far south as 

 Winnipeg. Passes the Northern States, both inland and along 

 the coast, on migration, and winters in the Southern States, Mexico, 

 the West Indies, and Central America. 



Allied Forms. — Anas penelope, the Old World representative 

 of the American Wigeon, a British species, and dealt with fully in 

 the preceding chapter. 



Time during which the American Wigeon may be 



taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — The habits of the American Wigeon are not known 

 to differ in any very important particular from those of its 

 Palsearctic congener. In the Southern United States, where it is 

 extremely common during winter, it is known to sportsmen by 

 the name of " Bald- Pate." Like its Old World ally, it is said to 

 frequent inland localities as well as the coast, and visits rice-fields 

 and rivers. Its note is described as a low whistle, but probably 

 it has others which resemble those of the Common Wigeon. Its 

 food is composed of vegetable and animal substances, notably the 

 succulent weed valltsneria, and rice. The flesh of this bird is 

 said to be excellent. 



Nidification. — The nest of the American Wigeon is placed 

 on the earth amongst trees and bushes in swampy districts, but 

 always on a dry bit of ground, and is made of dry grass, leaves, 

 and other vegetable refuse, and lined with plenty of down and a 

 few feathers plucked from the breast or flanks of the female. 

 The eggs are from six to twelve in number, creamy white in 

 colour, and measure on an average 2-2 inches in length by 

 I '5 inch in breadth. Down apparently the same as that of the 

 Common Wigeon. Only one brood is reared in the year. 



Diagnostic Characters. — (Nuptial plumage), Anas, with the 

 back and flanks vermiculated with black on a claret-coloured 

 ground, with the axillaries nearly uniform white, slightly mottled 

 at the tip, and with a green stripe on the side of the head reach- 

 ing from the eye to the neck (adult male) ; with a rich black alar 

 speculum and nearly white axillaries (adult female). Length, 

 19 to 20 inches. 



