AMERICAN WIDGEON. 9 
AMERICAN WIDGHON. (Anas Americana.) 
PLATE LXIX.—Fie. 4. 
Le Canard Jenson, Pl. enl. 955.—Buff. ix. p. 174.—Arct. Zool. No. 502.— 
Lath, iii. p. 520.—Peale’s Museum, No. 2798. 
MARECA AMERICAN A.—STEPHENS.* 
Mareca Americana, Steph. Cont. Sh. Zool. xii. p. 185.—Worth. Zool. ii. p. 445.— 
Anas Americana, Bonap. Synop. p. 384. 
THis is a handsomely-marked and sprightly species, very 
common in winter along our whole coast from Florida to 
* This species is closely allied to the European widgeon, and may be 
taken asthe American analogue, They seem to meet each other about 
the arctic circle; that of America extending beyond it, and that of 
Europe reaching to the European verge. They will form the types of 
Stephens’s genus MMareca, which will probably stand in the rank of a 
more subordinate group only. The form is one of considerable interest, 
possessing many combinations, which may be found to connect some 
parts of the fiatural system. The bird of Europe, except in the breed- 
ing season, is mostly an inhabitant of the sea-shore ; during a severe win- 
ter, a few stray inland to the larger lakes and rivers, but as soon as a 
recurrence of moderate weather takes place, they return to their more 
favourite feeding grounds. In Britain they are mostly migratory, and 
at the first commencement of our harder weather, are found in vast 
flocks on the flatter coasts, particularly where there are beds of mussels 
and other shellfish. During day, they rest and plume themselves on 
the higher shelves, or doze buoyant on the waves, and only commence 
their activity with the approach of twilight. At this time they become 
clamorous, and rising in dense flocks from their day’s resort, proceed to 
the feeding grounds, generally according to the wind in the same tract. 
At the commencement of winter, they are fat and delicate, much sought 
after by the sea-sportsmen, and are killed in numbers by persons 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 neighbourhood of Duck Creek, in the State of 
