WILD FOWL. 
109 
Teals, rather than with the Mallards and Duskv Ducks. It 
abounds in the Chesapeake, in company with the Canvass- 
Backs, Red-heads, Long-tailed Ducks, and Shovellers. It 
is there and throughout the west known as the Bald-pate, and 
is esteemed excellent eating. The Gad wall —Anas Strepera — 
and Shoveller —Anas Clypeata —have been noticed already. 
They are common to the West, but scarcely in sufficient quan¬ 
tities* though delicious birds, to be enumerated as game proper 
THE AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
Anas Americana .— Vulgo, Bald-pate. 
** This is a handsomely-marked and sprightly species, very 
common in winter along our whole coast, from Florida to 
Rhode Island, but most abundant in Carolina, where it frequents 
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 labor he has ingenuity enough to contrive to make a 
good subsistence. The Widgeon is extremely 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 con¬ 
stant 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 moi'sel from his 
mouth, and makes off. On this account the Canvass-Backs and 
Widgeons, or, as they are called round the bay, Bald-pates, 
live in a state of perpetual contention ; the only chance the 
latter have is to retreat, and make their approaches at con¬ 
venient 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 
