ANATIDiE— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 145 



condition. It winters in the Southern States, Mexico, and the 

 West Indies. Though in winter the Widgeon collects in very- 

 large flocks, it passes over the northern parts of the Mississippi 

 Valley in small bands, and usually arrives at the Mackehzie and 

 the Yukon in pairs, or in small parties of three or four together. 

 It reaches Slave Lake and the Yukon early in May, and begins 

 to nest about the middle of that month, though some do not 

 do so till the early part of June. It is rather more common 

 west of the mountains than in the Mackenzie region, and con- 

 siderable numbers are found in the breeding season on Lake 

 Winnipeg, where several were obtained by Mr. Donald Gunn. In 

 the north the Widgeon exhibits a greater preference .for rivers 

 and open lakes than most of the other fresh-water ducks, which 

 prefer the grassy lakes and marshes. Most of the nests which 

 Mr. Kennicott observed were near rivers in places not.fi-equented 

 by other ducks, except sometimes by the Mallard. The favorite 

 situation for the nest is remarkable; for while the other ducks— 

 except, perhaps, the teal — choose the immediate vicinity of 

 water, he found the Widgeon always breeding at some consider- 

 able distance from it. Several of the nests obtained on the Yukon 

 were fully half a mile from the river — the nearest water. He 

 invariably found the nest among dry leaves, upon high, dry 

 ground, either'under large trees or in thick groves of small ones — 

 frequently among thick spruces. The nest is rather small— simply 

 a depression among the leaves — but thickly lined with down, 

 with which, after incubation is begun, the eggs are covered when 

 left by the parent. The nest is usually placed at. the foot of a 

 tree or bush, with generally no attempt at concealment. The 

 female, when Started from her nest, rises -silently into the air, 

 and usually flies to the nearest water, though sometimes she 

 will alight- on the ground a few rods distant. The males remain 

 more or less in the vicinity for some time after the females begin 

 to incubate; but when the time of moulting arrives they retire 

 to the grassy marshes and edges of lakes for concealment, lead- 

 ing a solitary life. The young, while unable to fly, are frequently 

 found seeking the shelter of grassy lakes. As soon, however, as 

 they can fly they return to their favorite river-shores and open 

 feeding places, wh^re they obtain aquatic insects, a few small 

 shells, and the seeds and roots of various plants. In the fall 



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