Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 13:39:41 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Janet Millenson Subject: Re: Wigeon -v- Widgeon Redux MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mike Bowen wrote: "I have some even older British field guides than Paul O'Brien, and they still support Dave Mozurkewitch's theory that the "d" was never included in the name in British usage." Well, any mention of OLD BIRD BOOKS is guaranteed to get my attention! So I did a little research and it supports what Mike and Dave wrote. However, nowhere could I find any explanation of how the different spelling got established in the first place. In America... * J.J. Audubon, "Birds of America" (1838): American Widgeon * Alexander Wilson, "American Ornithology" (1814): American Widgeon, Anas Americana ("the Widgeon or Bald pate") [Unfortunately, Catesby (late 1700s) did not write about this bird.] In Britain... * Willughby and Ray, "Ornithology" (1678): The Common Wigeon or Whewer * Thomas Bewick, "History of British Birds" (1809): Wigeon, Anas Penelope (also known as "Whewer, Whim, or Pandled Whew") Janet Millenson Potomac, MD (Montgomery County) janet@twocrows.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- "Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================