426 WIGEON. 



range in summer extends from the Arctic circle to Mongolia, and in 

 winter over the rest of that continent and its islands down to 

 Borneo ; and a specimen has even been obtained in the Marshall 

 group, Polynesia. From Siberia we trace this species across Bering 

 Sea, by way of the Aleutian Islands, to Alaska, and it is not unfre- 

 quent on the coast of California ; while on the east side of America 

 it occurs almost every winter, especially between Virginia and the 

 Carolinas. 



The nest, placed in a tuft of rushes, coarse herbage or heather, is 

 warmly lined with down, and usually contains from 7-10 eggs 

 of a rich cream-colour : average measurements 2 "3 by i"5 in. The 

 food — procured by day when the birds are undisturbed, but other- 

 wise by night — consists chiefly of grasses, with other vegetable matter 

 found on oozy shores. The call-note of the male is a shrill whistling 

 w/iee-you, v;\\QncQ the local names 'Whew Duck' and ' Whewer ' ; 

 but the female utters a low piirr-mg growl ; both sexes, however, 

 rise in silence. Although it does not dive for food, the Wigeon 

 can submerge itself easily when wounded and pursued, turning 

 rapidly under water. No other species offers such attractions to the 

 punt-gunner ; it is also taken in large numbers in those of our 

 decoys which, as in Essex, and also in Pembrokeshire, are situated 

 near the sea, though flocks seldom resort to pools at a distance 

 inland. In confinement it breeds occasionally, though not very 

 freely ; and has been known to cross with the Pintail, Mallard, and 

 Teal. 



The adult male has the forehead and crown cream-white ; cheeks 

 and hind neck chestnut, minutely spotted with bottle-green ; chin 

 black ; throat and upper neck chestnut ; breast white, passing into 

 grey on the under parts, the flanks being pencilled with dark 

 grey ; mantle chiefly of a finely vermiculated grey ; shoulder white 

 with a terrninal bar of black, followed hyz green speculum tipped 

 with black below ; quills and tail dark brown ; bill bluish-lead 

 colour ; legs and toes dark brown. Early in July fem.ale plumage 

 is assumed, but the tints of the drake are always the brighter. Length 

 18 in. ; wing io'5 in. The female is generally mottled with greyish- 

 brown on the upper parts, and the shoulders are nearly white; the 

 speculum is greyish-green, and the under parts are mottled bufiish- 

 white. As usual, the young resemble the female, which occasionally 

 assumes nearly full male plumage. 



