AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
]35 
notice by Mr. Blyth to the “ Naturalist.” It was 
mixed with specimens of the common bird, and se- 
lected as a variety ; and it appears that a female 
also had been sent with the same lot of birds, but 
was unfortunately not preserved. No trace of the 
locality from which the bird was received is given, 
and we have not heard of any other instance of its 
occurrence within the limits of our islands.* In its 
native country the range is of considerable extent, 
most of the birds being migratory in their various 
stations. It is abundant on the Colombia river, t 
where it breeds in the woody districts ; while Au- 
dubon met with it in an opposite direction in the 
Floridas, and along the shores of the Bay of Mexico 
and in Texas ; he thinks that they also “ propagate” 
in the island of Cuba. (Some others of the West 
Indian Islands arc also mentioned by authors as sta- 
tions for the American widgeon, Martinique, St. 
Domingo, &c.) In summer it frequents the retired 
ponds of the forest, in company with the teals and 
pintails, roving from one another in quest of food. 
“ They feed on the roots and seeds of grasses, water 
insects, beech-nuts, small fry, and leeches." They 
also frequent the rice-fields of Carolina, feeding on 
that vegetable, when they are considered very deli- 
cate as an article of food. Their w inter habits are 
not noticed. 
* Is it certain that the widgeons in question were not re- 
ceived from the continent, whence wo believe quantities of 
water-fowl come to the London markets ? 
+ Townsend, quoted from Aud. iv. 339. 
J Faun. Bor. Amer. Birds, p. 437. 
