NATATjQRES. ANATIDJE,
T H E AM ER ICA N WIGEON.
Anas Americana, American Wigeon,
Mareca, ,
W ilson*’ Am, Qrnith. yol.viii., p. 86.
J ardine’s edit. vol. iii.'p. 109.
A udubon, Oraith. Biog. vol. iv. p. 337-
N uttall, Man. yoj. ii.-p. 389.
Stephens, Shaw. Zool. vol. xii. p. 135
F aun. Bor. AmerJ vdlfli. p. 445.
T he occurrence of the American Wigeon in a London
market during the winter of 1837-38, was thus noticed by
Mr. Edward Blyth, in the third volume of the Naturalist j
page 417.
“ The American Wigeon is a novelty which was ofe
tained by Mr. Bartlett* He selected it from a row of Common
Wigeons, deeming it, at the time, to be only an accidental
variety of the species; there was a female along with
it, which, after some hesitation, he unfortunately left, considering1
it only as a variety,'but insufficiently diverse to be
worth preserving ; he has sincej however, positively recognised
the female of the American Wigeon to be identical
with the bird he thus passed over, hesitatingly, in the market.
The dimensions of the male bird were nineteen inches in
length, apd thfrtyM;wd,.and: a half in extent -of wing; the
beak is rather narrower than that of its European relative,
and nearly a quarter,-, of an [inch:.lohger;; the tracheal labyrinth,
or rather osseous vesicle, considerably smaller ; scarcely
exceeding in magnitude that of a Teal.”
I am indebted to, the: kindness of Mr. Bartlett for the
opportunity afforded me ofrgiving a figure, description, and
measurements from his specimen. I must also refer to American
authorities’ for the habits and localities of this bird.
Wilson says “ this species1 is very ddminori in winter along
the whole eoast, 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- ske. much complained
of by the planters. The Wigeon is the constant
attendant of the celebrated Canvass-back Duck, so abundant
in various parts of the Chesapeake Bay. They are said to
be in great plenty at StV Domingo and Cayenne, where they
are called ‘vingeon,1 or ‘gingeon;’ are.said sometimes to perch
in '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 whew, whew.
This soft note, or whistle, .is frequently imitated with success,
to entice 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