CHAPTER XVIII. 



AMERICAN WIDGEON (ANAS AMERICANA). 

 Local name, "Bald-pate." 



Adult male : Bill nearly as long as the head, 

 deeper than broad at the base, depressed towards 

 the end, the sides nearly parallel, the tip rounded. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. 

 Neck rather long, slender. Body elongated and 

 slightly depressed. Feet very short; tibia bare 

 for about a quarter of an inch; tarsus very 

 short, compressed. 



Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the 

 head and upper neck oblong, small ; those along 

 the crown and occiput longer; of the lower parts 

 ovate, glossy, with the extremities of the fila- 

 ments stiffish. Wings rather long, little curved, 

 narrow, pointed. Tail short, rounded, and pointed, 

 of sixteen feathers, of which the middle pair are 

 more pointed, .and project considerably. 



Bill light grayish-blue, with the extremity, in- 



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