SUBFAMILY ANATINjE. 279 



and about equal in width throughout its length. Central rec- 

 trices moderately lengthened. 



Two species, out of the three known to belong to this genus, 

 are found within our borders ; one indigenous to the Continent, 

 the other a frequent straggler from the Old World. Both are 

 beautiful birds, the male's plumage being gayly colored, but the 

 two forms have little or no resemblance to each other. The 

 European Widgeon has more strongly contrasted colors perhaps 

 than those seen in its American relative, but neither has very 

 much advantage over the other in beauty. The exotic species 

 has been taken many times in various portions of the United 

 States, all males, however ; the female, having such a close re- 

 semblance to that of our Baldpate, would probably pass unnoticed, 

 even if captured. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Top of head buff, rest of head and neck 

 chestnut. 



EUROPEAN 

 WIDGEON. 



M. penelope. g 



B. Top of head whitish ; rest of head and \ baldpate. 

 neck whitish, spotted with black, and with a >■ M. ameri- 

 lengthened patch of metallic green. ; cana. J 



C. Head and upper neck reddish brown, 



spotted with black. \ ^ "peneiop'e. $ 



EUROPEAN 

 WIDGEON. 



BALDPATE. 



M. ameri- 

 cana. $ 



D. Head and upper neck whitish, spotted 

 with black. 



GENUS DAFILA 

 (Dafila, nonsense word). 



Dafila, Steph. Gen. Zool., vol. xii., pt. ii., 1824, p. 126. Type 

 Anas acuta, Linn. 



Bill long as head, slender, the width about one-third the length 

 of culmen, and nearly equal throughout ; neck very long and 

 slender. Central rectrices greatly elongated. Wing .pointed. 

 First and second primaries equal and longest. Feathers of lores 

 form a convex line at base of maxilla. 



