WIGEON. 231 



Cromarty, the Orkneys and Shetlands. In Ireland it is 

 said to breed locally and sparingly in Counties Antrim, 

 Armagh, Tyrone, and Mayo. 



Breeding habits : It is difficult to say whether the 

 Wigeons that breed with us retire south in autumn 

 or not, their personality being utterly effaced by the 

 individuals that pour in from the north at that season. 

 The breeding-haunts of this Duck are the rough districts 

 on the borders of the moors close to the limit of forest 

 growth — scrubby woodlands, swamps, and heaths clothed 

 with a coarse vegetation, and studded with lakes and tarns 

 and streams. We still remain in ignorance as to whether 

 this species pairs for life or not: personally I should 

 incline to the latter view, after what I have observed of 

 its economy. So far as our islands are concerned the 

 Wigeon cannot be regarded as at all gregarious during 

 the summer, but in many localities the nests are 

 sprinkled pretty closely over suitable ground, suggesting 

 at least a social tendency. The nest is made in a variety 

 of situations, sometimes at a considerable distance from 

 water, but more usually near the lake or tarn-side. 

 Sometimes it is made amongst heather, at other times 

 in coarse grass, or beneath the shelter of a stunted bush. 

 The nest is made of dry grass and withered fragments 

 of aquatic herbage, warmly lined with down from the 

 body of the female. The bird is a close sitter, but not 

 demonstrative when flushed from the eggs. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Wigeon are from six to ten in number ; 

 in rare instances as many as twelve. They range from 

 creamy-white to buffish-white in colour, are smooth in 

 texture, but with little polish. Average measurement, 

 2"2 inches in length, by v^ in breadth. Incubation, 

 performed by the female, lasts from twenty-four to 

 twenty-five days. 



