THE AMERICAN WIDGEON. 81 
trip far more difficult and tedious than the facilities af 
forded by the Erie Railroad and the noble steamers on 
the lakes now render a visit to those glorious sporting- 
grounds. 
Tur Amertcan Wineeroy, the bird which is represented 
as falling headforemost with collapsed wings, shot per- 
fectly dead without a struggle, in the accompanying 
woodcut, while the Mallard goes off safely, quacking at 
the top of his voice in strange terror, though nearly allied 
to the European species, is yet perfectly distinct, and 
peculiar to this continent. 
It is thus accurately described by Mr. Giraud, although 
but an unfrequent visitor of the Long Island bays and 
shores : 
“Bill short, the color light grayish blue; speculum 
green, banded with black. Under wing coverts white. 
Adult male with the coral space, sides of the head, under 
the eye, upper part of the neck and throat brownish 
white, spotted with black. A broad band of white, com- 
mencing at the base of the upper mandible, passing over 
the crown.” It is this mark which has procured the bird 
its general provincial appellation of “ Baldpate.” “ Be- 
hind the eye a broad band of bright green, extending 
backward on the hind neck about three inches; the. 
feathers on the nape rather long; lower neck and sides 
of the breast, with a portion of the upper part of the 
breast reddish brown. Rest of the lower parts white, 
excepting a patch of black at the base of the tail. Under 
4% 
