THE AMERICAN WIDGEON. 11]

to steal upon them, start out into the
stream, beyond gun-shot. They only take
to the wing when much disturbed. In ©
Carolina and the West Indies, they fre-
quent the rice-fields in flocks, and in
Martinico are said to do considerable da-
mage tothe; crops. When feeding in
company, they ‘have a sentinel on the
watch. At times they keep in covert
until twilight, and are then traced by
their low, guttural whistle, which is often
imitated to lure them within gun-shot.
In the Middle States, these birds are fre-
quently brought to market, and are much
esteemed as food.