192 ANATID.E. 



wliich the Goose is known to feed. Hence, tlioiigli many 

 flocks of Wigeons accompany the other water-fowl in their 

 nocturnal wanderings, still numbers of them pass the whole 

 of the night here ; and this I know to be a fact, by their 

 singular whistling noise, which is heard at all hours." 



In March and April the Wigeon again moves northward 

 for the breeding season, and it is only within the last few 

 years that a small number have been ascertained to remain in 

 the most northern part of Scotland, to breed about the lakes 

 of Sutherlandshire. Colonel Hawker says that " Wigeon 

 either choose their mates, or detach themselves into small 

 trips preparative to so doing, by about Valentine's day." 

 Mr. Selby, in his paper on the Birds inhabiting the county 

 of Sutherland, says, " as the Wigeon had not previously 

 been detected breeding in Britain, we were much pleased to 

 observe several pairs upon the smaller lochs near Lairg, which 

 we concluded had their nests among the reeds and other 

 herbage which grew in their vicinity. We were not so for- 

 tunate, however, as to find one here, though diligent search 

 was made ; but afterwards, upon one of the islands of Loch 

 Laighal, we sprung a female, which was shot from her nest, 

 containing seven eggs. It was placed in the heart of a large 

 rush bush, and was made of decayed rushes and reeds, with a 

 lining of warm down from the bird's body. The eggs were 

 smaller than those of the Wild Duck, and of a rich cream- 

 white colour." The length two inches and one eighth, by 

 one inch and a half in breadth. Sir. W. Jardine, who was 

 one of the exploring party with Mr. Selby in Sutherlandshire, 

 in June 1834, mentions that " Wigeon were seen upon Loch 

 Shin, Loch Naver, Loch Loyal, and Loch Hope. They 

 were by no means abundant ; and it is probable that the birds 

 in this district were at the most southern limit of their breed- 

 ing stations, and bore no proportion whatever to the immense 

 flocks which frequent our coasts in winter." The note of the 



