298 FEATHERED GAME 
the lonesome and talkative decoy duck anchored 
in an attractive ‘‘pondhole.’’ It is not the 
readiest of the ducks to decoy, however. 
The Widgeon is a beautiful and graceful duck, 
and by his peculiar markings will command the 
admiring attention of any gunner who may cap- 
ture him. In his full plumage the male bird 
is marked on the top of his head with a large 
area of snowy white; on the sides of the head 
and neck a yellowish white, spotted and 
streaked with dusky; a black patch,—in some 
lights metallic green,—runs from the eye back 
to the nape; the lower neck and upper breast 
are light reddish brown with a purplish gloss 
and sheen to the feathers, their edges a trifle 
lighter than the centers; on the sides and flanks 
the same shade finely waved with indistinct 
dusky crossbars. 
The lower breast and under parts are pure 
white; the crissum jet black against this color. 
The purplish brown of the lower neck and 
breast spreads over the hind neck and down the 
back, waved with fine dusky lines set closely 
together. The lesser wing coverts are gray, 
growing lighter toward the middle and greater 
