no 
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 canvass- 
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 ex- 
tremely fond of the tender roots of that particular species of 
aquatic plant on which the canvass-back feeds, and for which 
that duck is in the constant habit of diving. The widgeon, 
who never dives, watches the moment of the canvass-back’s 
rising, and, before he has his eyes well opened, snatches the 
delicious morsel from his mouth and makes off. On this ac- 
count the canvass-backs and widgeons, or, as they are called 
round the bay, bald-pates, live in a state of perpetual conten- 
tion ; the only chance the latter have is to retreat, and make 
their approaches at convenient 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 company, 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 wheio-whew. This 
soft note, or whistle, is frequently imitated with success, to en- 
tice them within gunshot. They are not known to breed in 
any part of the United States ; are common, in the winter 
months, along the bays of Egg 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 
their own shrill cry ; whence their coast name of hew. They are subject to an 
annual change of plumage. Mr Ord mentions, that a few of these birds breed 
annually in the marshes in the neighbourhood of Duck Creek, in the State of 
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. — 
En. 
