22 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



possibly may be the same bird as that observed by Mrs. C. 

 Hodgkin on the estuary of the Teign, as recorded in the 

 March issue (Vol. IX., "p. 274). E. A. S. Elliot. 



On May 5th, 1916, I was pleased to observe two Spoonbills 

 (Platalea I. leucoroclia) in a rushy pool near Beaulieu, Hamp- 

 shire. They were very wary and difficult of approach. 

 When I visited the spot the following day another had joined 

 them, but as before, thej^ took to wing when I was four 

 Inmdred yards away. On the 12th I was more fortmiate, 

 and by carefully stalking managed to get within fifteen yards 

 of a single bird which appeared to be a yomig one of last 

 season, as the crest was inconspicuous. The method of feeding 

 by moving the beak quickly in circles through the mud and 

 water was especially interesting. E. M. Imrie. 



[In connexion with Miss Imrie's interesting note it may be 

 mentioned that three Spoonbills appeared at Beaulieu on 

 November 5th, 1906.— H.E.W.] 



DIVING BY SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS. 



The note on Wigeon diving by Mr. Miller Christy (Vol. IX., 

 p. 301) tempts me to put on record some experiences on the 

 point. During many years' practice of wildfowling afloat, 

 I have never once seen Wigeon (or, for that matter, any 

 of the surface-feeding ducks) dive of their own free will. 

 Wigeon, indeed, seem less inclined than any of the others 

 even to turn themselves vertically upwards, thus reaching 

 down to submerged food beneath, as Mallard, Teal, Sheld- 

 duck and others, also Brent Geese, habitually do. The 

 utmost a Wigeon cares to attempt is, in a general way, to 

 dip his head under, his body still remaining horizontally 

 afloat. Of course captive Wigeon, such as those Mr. Christy 

 mentions, might, and probably would, adopt habits foreign 

 to their normal nature, owing to the physical handicap of 

 being pinioned. 



At the same time, Wigeon, when woimded, are smart and 

 capable divers, as must be well known to every wildfowler : 

 so also are Mallard, Teal, Sheld-Duck and other surface- 

 feeders, including Brent Geese. But the Wigeon, I think, 

 exceeds them all (save perhaps the Teal) in subaquatic 

 smartness. I remember noticing a winged Wigeon-Drake 

 disappear in a tidal chamiel down which the ebb was running 

 strongly. Some minutes later, on reaching the marked spot 

 in the gunning-punt, this Wigeon was detected lying flat on 

 the bare sandy bottom, though without any apparent means 

 of holding himself stationary. The depth of water was 



