592 © AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
most abundant in Carolina, where it frequents the rice plantations. 
In Martinico, great flocks take short flights from one rice-field to 
another, during the rainy season, and are much complained of by the 
planters. The Widgeon is the constant attendant of the celebrated 
Canvass -Back Duck, so abundant in various parts of the Chesapeake Bay, 
by the aid of whose labor he has ingenuity enough to contrive to make 
a good subsistence. The Widgeon is extremely fond of the tender 
roots of that particular species of aquatic plant on which the Canvass- 
Back feeds, and for which that Duck is in the constant habit of diving. 
The Widgeon, who never dives, watches the moment of the Canvass- 
Back’s rising, and, before he has his eyes well opened, snatches the 
delicious morsel from his mot.th and makes off. On this account the 
Canvass-Backs and Widgeons, or, as they are called round the 
bay, Bald-Pates, live in a state of perpetual contention; the only 
chance the latter have is to retreat, and make their approaches at con- 
venient opportunities. They are said to be in great plenty at St. Do- 
mingo and Cayenne, where they are called Vingeon, or Gingeon. Are 
said sometimes to perch on trees; feed in company, and have a 
sentinel on the watch, like some other birds. They feed little during 
the day, but in the evenings come out from their hiding-places, and 
are then easily traced by their particular whistle, or whew-whew. This 
soft note, or whistle, is frequently imitated with success, to entice them 
within gunshot. They are not known to breed in any part of the 
United States ; are common, in the winter months, along the bays of 
Egg Harbor and Cape May, and also those of the Delaware. They 
leave these places in April, and appear upon the coasts of Hudson’s 
Bay in May, as soon as the thaws come on, chiefly in pairs; lay there 
only from six to eight eggs, and feed on flies and worms in the 
swamps; depart in flocks in autumn.* 
These birds are frequently brought to the market of Baltimore, and 
generally bring a good price, their flesh being excellent. They are of 
a lively, frolicsome disposition, and, with proper attention, might easily 
be domesticated. 
The Widgeon, or Bald-Pate, measures twenty-two inches in length, 
and thirty inches in extent; the bill is of a slate color; the nail, black 
the front and crown, cream colored, sometimes nearly white, the feath- 
ers inflated ; from the eye, backwards, to the middle of the neck behind, 
extends a band of deep glossy green, gold, and purple; throat, chin, 
and sides of the neck before, as far as the green extends, dull yellow- 
ish white, thickly speckled with black; breast, and hind part of the 
neck, hoary bay, running in under the wings, where it is crossed with 
fine, waving lines of black; whole belly, white ; vent, black; back and 
sons lying ‘in watch in the track of the known flight, or what, in some parts, is 
called slaking. The most propitious night for this sport is about half moon, and 
strong wind; ‘the birds then fly low, and their approach is easily known by the 
whistling of their wings, and their own shrill cry ; whence their coast name of Hew. 
They are subject to an annual change of plumage. Mr. Ord mentions, that a few 
of these birds breed annually in the marshes in the neighborhood of Duck Creek, in 
the state of Delaware. An acquaintance of the Editor’s brought him thence, in the 
month of June, an egg, which had been taken from a nest situated ina cluster of 
alders. —Ep. 
* Hurcyyns. 
