524 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AHSERES. 
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 frequented 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 vicin- 
ity of water, he found the Widgeon always breeding at some considerable 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 — fre- 
quently 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, leading 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, where they obtain 
aquatic insects, a few small shells, and the seeds and roots of various plants. In the 
fall the broods often separate before leaving for the south ; this they do about the 
middle of September. Mr. Kennicott several times found perfect eggs of this spe- 
cies — though never of any other Duck — dropped along the shores of rivers, at their 
feeding-places. This bird is said to make its first appearance on the Chesapeake 
about the last of October. 
While the Canvas-backs and the Black-heads dive and pull up by the roots the 
vallisneria grass, the Bald-pates manage to obtain their full share of it, and at times 
succeed in robbing them of the whole. At this time the flavor of the Bald-pate is 
considered preferable to that of even the far-famed Canvas-backs. Of all the ducks 
that are found in the Chesapeake, the Widgeon is said to be one of the most difficult 
to attract to the shore by the process known as “toling.” In wing-shooting it is 
regarded by the hunters as a great nuisance. It is not only so shy that it avoids the 
points of land, but by its whistling and confused manner of flight it alarms the other 
species. During its stay in those waters it is the constant companion of the Canvas- 
backs, upon whose superiority in diving it depends in a large degree for its food, 
stealing from them, as they rise to the surface of the water, the tender roots of the 
plant of which both are so fond. When in good condition the flesh of the Bald-pate 
cannot easily be distinguished from that of the Canvas-back. It is also thought that 
birds killed on other waters, though excellent eating, are far inferior to those from 
the flats of the Chesapeake. The Bald-pate is said to visit the rice-fields of the South 
during the winter in considerable numbers. 
The places in the northern regions from which this Duck has been reported in its 
breeding-season are the Yukon River and Fort Yukon, by Mr. J. Lockhart and Mr. 
S. Jones; Fort Resolution, by Mr. Kennicott; Fort Anderson, Anderson River, the 
Lower Anderson, Swan River, etc., by Mr. MacFarlane ; Selkirk Settlement, by Mr. 
Donald Gunn; Hulato and the Lower Yukon, by Mr. Dali; Hew Westminster, by 
Mr. IT. W. Elliott. 
The eggs of this species are of a creamy ivory white color, and vary in length from 
2.15 to 2.20 inches, and from 1.45 to 1.50 in breadth. 
