AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
109 
winter. It inhabits America as high as Hudson’s Bay, and 
retires from this place in October.* 
AMERICAN WIDGEON ANAS AMERICANA.— Plate LXIX. 
Fig. 4. 
Le Canard Jenson, PL Enl. 955 Puff. ix. p. 174. — Arct. ZooZ. No. 502. — Lath* 
iii. p. 520. — Peale's Museum^ No. 2798. 
3IARECA AMERICANA.— Stephens.^ 
Mareca Americana, Steph. Cont. Sh. Zool. xii. p. 135 North. 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 
* Latham. 
f This species is closely allied to the European widgeon, and may be taken as 
the 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 Euro- 
pean verge. They will form the types of Stephens’s genus, Mareca, 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 natural system. The bird of Europe, except in the 
breeding 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 shell-fish. During day, they rest and plume 
themselves on the higher shelves, or doze buoyant on the waves, and only com- 
mence 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 feed- 
ing grounds, generally according to the wind in the same tract. At the com- 
mencement 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 
2 
