CHAPTER LXXIII 



WIDGEON 



A STRONG September nor'-easter brings the smee over in 

 considerable flocks, which scatter, on arriving, over the 

 dikes, ronds, slads, and broads, hving singly, in pairs, or 

 bunches. Nor are they shy on first arriving, but allow 

 the insidious punt-gunner to approach closely. But his 

 terrific reports soon frighten the birds, and they grow shy 

 and begin to use their tongues, the leader whistling his soft 

 warning, when danger threatens his party. Should a widgeon 

 be alone, however, or in the company of gulls, or with perhaps 

 two or three of his own tribe, he grows anxious, and at the 

 least approach of danger stands up with head erect and calls 

 in short, quick whistles, for he is now excited and nervous. 

 Experienced gunners tell me they can tell roughly the number 

 of widgeon present by the leader's whistles. But with all 

 his whistlings and anxiety, the flock is often shot whilst 

 asleep — an easy death, at any rate. 



After having grown shy they seldom alight in a bunch on the 

 lagoons, but straggle all over the cold grey waters. In the 

 dark they resemble mallard, both in their flight and wing- 

 beat ; but they are generally known to the flight-shooter 

 as they approach him by their leader's whisthng — a whistle 

 resembling the babies' toy rubber-ball with whistle. On 

 a dusky winter's night the flight-shooters are at times kept 

 busy, as they come over the flat-land and reed-beds in 

 pairs or fours, and even bunches of one or two score ; for 

 they flight every morning and night from one broad to the 

 other, and sometimes during the day — that is, if disturbed 

 when they happen to be resting. 



