IO AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
Rhode Island, but most abundant in Carolina, where it fre- 
quents 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 canvas- 
back duck, so abundant in various parts of the Chesapeake Bay, 
by the aid of whose labour 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 canvas-back feeds, and for which that duck is 
in the constant habit of diving. The widgeon, who never dives, 
watches the moment of the canvas-back’s rising, and, before 
he has his eyes well opened, snatches the delicious morsel from 
his mouth and makes off. On this account the canvas-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 Domingo and Cayenne, where they are called vingeon, or 
gingeon. Are said sometimes to perch on trees, feed in com- 
pany, 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 gun- 
shot. They are not known to breed in any part of the United 
States ; are common, in the winter months, along the bays of 
Ege Harbour 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,* 
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 in a 
cluster of alders.—Ep. 
* Hutchins. 
