WIGEON fT 
WIGEON. Mareca penelope (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. v, pl. 13; 
Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. vi, pls. 432, 433; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. vii, pl. 41. 
Hundreds of Wigeon visit our coasts in late autumn and 
winter, taking their departure about March, to breed in 
more northern regions. The majority arrive in October, 
preceded by a few immature birds which reach us during 
the latter end of August. I have seen small numbers of 
immature Wigeon as early as August 14th, feeding with 
Oyster-catchers and Gulls on the ooze-flats of Dublin Bay. 
They appeared fatigued and were comparatively tame. 
Though essentially maritime, yet large sheets of fresh 
water, and less frequently small lakes, rivers and marshes, 
also afford this species natural habitat. 
Intensely cold and_ boisterous weather, when inland 
waters are frozen over, drives vast assemblages of Wigeon 
to our bays and estuaries. Viewed at a distance with the 
unaided eye, these Ducks resemble a long, irregular and 
broken line of black sea-wrack tossing up and down on 
the angry breakers, or tiny dark specks strewing the sea 
for many acres round. It would repay the bird-lover to take 
a ramble along the beach at high water, and study these 
familiar, yet interesting, sea-fowl. From the cover of a 
sand-dune, he can see the hardy little creatures pitching 
about asleep on the waters, despite the approaching hurri- 
cane. Among them are a few Pintails, Mallards, Scaups, 
Scoters, Cormorants and Gulls, scarcely able to cope with 
wind and wave. But in this great multitude of Wigeon, 
there are many awake and lively. The yellow-headed 
drakes are speeding across the water in hot pursuit, some 
are diving to escape, others washing, splashing and sitting 
up on end flapping their wings. 
Their merry whistle may be heard clearly above the 
roar of the breakers. Now something has disturbed them ! 
They stretch their necks and look intently upwards in great 
excitement. 
What keen sight they possess! They have been watch- 
ing for some time what still appears a mere speck in the 
air. A Peregrine Falcon! They recognise their foe long 
before the onlooker can even discern that it is an approach- 
ing bird. Ere a minute has elapsed the Falcon is directly 
overhead. A magnificent sight! One great swoop to the 
