WILD FOWL. 
Ill 
thickly speckled with black, very little rufous on the breast; the 
back is dark-brown. The young males, as usual, very much 
like the females duiing the first season, and do not receive their 
full plumage until the second year. They are also subject to a 
regular change every spring and autumn. 
“ 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 European 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 com¬ 
binations, 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 
winter, a few stray inland to the larger lakes and rivers, but as 
soon as a recurrence of moderate weather takes place, they re¬ 
turn to their more favorite 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 muscles and other shell-fish. 
During day, they rest and plume themselves on the higher 
shelves, or doze buoyant on the waves, and only commence 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 feeding grounds, generally according to the wind 
in the same tract. At the commencement 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 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 neighborhood of 
