238 ' WILD-FOWL 



on account of the delicacy of its flesh, which, like that 

 of the other dabbling ducks, is always in fine condi- 

 tion. The widgeon is more often called the bald-pate 

 on account of the top of the head and forehead being 

 white. This duck is somewhat smaller than the mal- 

 lard, being nineteen inches in length to the latter's 

 twenty-two. 



The widgeon flies swiftly, usually in small flocks. 

 It is extremely shy and wary, and has been said to 

 warn other ducks by its whistling sound. 



Although the widgeon is a fresh- or shoal-water duck, 

 it also frequents the brackish bays and sounds about 

 the coasts, where it associates with the canvas-backs 

 and red-heads, and steals their food in the manner 

 already described. 



I shot my first widgeon many years ago in Southern 

 Ohio when they were fairly abundant on the Ohio 

 River and on the smaller streams; but the incessant 

 shooting at the ducks has so diminished their numbers 

 that many of them are never seen in places where I 

 used to find them abundant. 



The widgeon breeds as far south as Texas, and if 

 laws prohibiting spring shooting were passed in all 

 the States, as they should be, these birds would be 

 especially benefited thereby. They are very hand- 

 some birds. Mr. Thompson says the widgeon fur- 

 nishes good shooting in Oregon, and comes readily 

 to decoys. At times they are very abundant. The 

 widgeon, he says, seem to love the sunshine, hence the 

 best shooting is on a bright, sunny day. 



