260 
AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
While advancing along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, in April, 1837, 
I and ray party observed this species in considerable numbers ; and during 
the whole of our stay in Texas, we daily saw and very frequently procured 
Widgeons. There they were found in ponds of brackish water, as well as in 
the fresh-water streams. Before we left that country they were all paired, 
and I was informed by the Honourable M. Fisher, Secretary to the Texan 
Navy, that a good number of them breed in the maritime districts, along 
with several other Ducks, and that he annually received many of the young 
birds. Their manners at this time fully proved the correctness of the 
statements of all those who spoke to me on this subject. Indeed my opinion 
is that some of these birds also propagate in certain portions of the most 
southern districts of the Floridas, and in the Island of Cuba, as I have 
seen Widgeons in the peninsula in single pairs, in the beginning of May. 
Their retrograde movements in spring, like those of other species, depend 
much upon the temperature or the advance of the season ; and those whicli 
proceed northward set out on their journey much earlier than those which 
move in the opposite direction, the former departing from the middle of 
March to the 20th of April. Their first appearance on the waters of the 
Ohio takes place late in September or early in October, when they at once 
throw themselves into the ponds of the interior, and there remain until the 
waters are closed by ice, scarcely any betaking themselves to the rivers, 
unless to repose on the sand-bars. They are there, however, less abundant 
than nearer the sea-coast, and usually associate with Pintails and Teals, but 
rarely with Mallards or Dusky Ducks. Whilst in those retired ponds of the 
forest, from one to another of which they roam in quest of food, they are 
less noisy than most other species, even than the Pintails, and in this respect 
resemble the Blue-winged Teals, whose notes are feeble and delicate. Those 
of the Widgeon are a soft whistle, somewhat similar to the word sweet , 
enunciated as if produced by a flute or a hautboy, and in my judgment not 
at all like the hew hew spoken off by Wilson. They are less shy in those 
retired places than most species, or are to appearance less aware of the 
danger of allowing the sportsman to approach them. 
In feeding they immerse their neck and the anterior part of the body, 
generally swimming closer together than other Ducks, in consequence of 
which habits they are easily neared and often shot in great numbers at a 
single discharge. During their stay in those districts they feed on the rooth 
and seeds of grasses, water-insects, beech-nuts, small fry, and leeches, and 
are not so delicate as an article of food as those procured in the rice-fields of 
South Carolina, or in the plantations of Louisiana and Florida. On their 
return in spring (for in mild winters they remain all the season in Ken" 
tucky), they generally continue until the end of April, and usually pair 
