92 
AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
easily traced by their particular whistle or whew whew. This soft 
note or whistle is frequently imitated with success, to entice them 
within gunshot. Are common in the winter months along the bays 
of Egg-Harbor 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 to eight eggs ; and feed on flies and 
worms in the swamps ; depart in flocks in autumn. 
These birds are frequently brought to the markets of Phila- 
delphia and Baltimore, and generally bring a good price, their flesh 
being excellent. They are of a lively frolicksome disposition, and 
with proper attention might easily be domesticated. When fat the 
males weigh upwards of two pounds. 
The Widgeon or Bald-pate measures twenty-two inches in 
length, and thirty inches in extent ; the bill is of a slate color, the 
nail black ; the front and crown cream colored, sometimes nearly 
white, the feathers inflated ; from the eye backwards to the mid- 
dle of the neck behind, extends a band of deep glossy green gold 
and purple ; throat, chin, and sides of the neck before, as far as 
the green extends, dull yellowish white, thickly speckled with 
black ; breast and hind part of the neck hoary bay, running in 
under the wings, where it is crossed with fine waving lines of 
black ; whole belly white ; vent black ; back and scapulars black, 
thickly and beautifully crossed with undulating lines of vinous 
bay ; lower part of the back more dusky ; tail-coverts long, point- 
ed, whitish, crossed as the back ; tail pointed, brownish ash, the 
two middle feathers an inch longer than the rest, and tapering ; 
shoulder of the wing brownish ash, wing-coverts immediately be- 
low white, forming a large spot ; primaries brownish ash, middle 
secondaries black glossed with green, forming the speculum ; ter- 
tials black edged with white, between which and the beauty spot 
several of the secondaries are white. 
* Hutchins. 
