80 NESTS AND EGOS OP 



posed of fine grass, and feathers from the breast of the bird. The eggs are clay color 

 or creamy buff, elliptical in shape, and measure 2.09 by 1.57. 



136. WIDGEON. Anas penelope Linn. Geog. Dist.— Northern part of the Old 

 World. In North America breeds in the Aleutian Islands. Occurs occasionally in 

 the Eastern United States. 



The European Widgeon, in its size and general character, resembles the Ameri- 

 can Widgeon or Baldpate. In the south of Scotland and throughout England it is an 

 abundant winter visitant; a few remain to breed on the islands of the lochs in the 

 northern portions of Scotland. It breeds in Norway and Sweden, an^ is the most 

 abundant of the ducks that breed in Lapland, nesting in the grassy swamps and lakes 

 midst tall rushes, the material for the nest being reeds and grasses, with a warm lining 

 of down and feathers from the bird's body. The eggs are five to eight in number, 

 and their color is pale buff; their average size is 2.23x1.53. 



137. BALDPATE. Anas americana Gmel. Geog. Dist. — North America, from 

 the Arctic Ocean south to Guatemala and Cuba. 



The American Widgeon or Baldpate inhabits North America at large, breeding 

 anywhere in suitable localities. This is one of the neatest of our ducks, and may be 

 known by the spotted neck and head. The latter is white on top; the speculum 

 green and black; the lower neck, scapulars, sides and upper breast chestnut-red, 

 tinged with ashy, finely banded, all but the breast, with dark brown. The greater 

 upper wing coverts are white, tipped with black, and the under parts are pure white; 

 the bill and feet are grayish-blue. The female is similar, but lacks the white crown 

 ana iridescence on the head. There is a great variation in the normal coloration of 

 the plumage, aside from age or sex, but as Dr. Coues says: "The bird cannot be 

 mistaken under any condition; the extensive white of the under parts and wings is 

 recognizable at gun-range." The nest of this species is md,de on the ground and 

 in marshes, composed of grass and weeds, neatly arranged and nicely hollowed; 

 it Is usually lined with the down and feathers from the breast of the bird. The eggs 

 are pale buff, eight to twelve in number, measuring 2.00 by 1.50, with slight varia- 

 tions. 



138. ETrKOPEAN TEAL. Anas crecca Linn. Geog. Dist. — Northern part of 

 the Old World. Casual in Eastern North America and the Aleutian Islands. 



This duck, which resembles very closely our American Green-winged Teal, Is of 

 Irregular occurrence in Eastern North America. In the northern portions of Europe 

 3t is very common, especially throughout Norway and Sweden. Breeds in abundance 

 all over Lapland and in Northern Russia. Mr. Mathew Clugston informs me that 

 this duck is quite common in Scotland, where it nests in the grassy herbage about 

 the edges of lochs. A few breed in various places in Great Britain — as far south as 

 Suffolk, England, and also in Wales. .It is known to breed on some of the islands 

 on the west coast of Spain and those on the northwestern coast of Africa. The nest 

 is formed of grasses and reeds, warmly lined with feathers. In seme places this 

 duck's favorite breeding resorts are the bogs and marshes in grassy fields. The eggs 

 are commonly eight to ten in number; and sometimes as many as fifteen are laid. 

 They are yellowish-white, oval in shape, and ^leasure 1.75 in length by 1.30 in 

 breadth. 



