The True Ducks. 215 



driven to acquire night-feeding proclivities 

 by the influence of man, and by considera- 

 tions of safety. But, on further examina- 

 tion, this conclusion appears hardly to be 

 borne out, though Wigeon are undoubtedly 

 far more disposed to feed by day than 

 are the Mallard. It must be remembered 

 that, in their northern breeding grounds 

 (whence they have newly returned) there 

 is practically, during their sojourn there, 

 no night at all. Even in Central Norway 

 there is no darkness, and in their grand 

 resorts in Lapland and corresponding lati- 

 tudes, midnight is indistinguishable from 

 noon. Consequently they then acquire 

 promiscuous habits ; and, like other Arctic 

 voyagers, they eat when hungry and sleep 

 when tired, without much regard to solar 

 chronology. On first arrival here, the 

 Wigeon, and especially the young birds, 

 which now for the first time experience 

 the regular alternations of light and dark- 

 ness, continue the somewhat anomalous 

 habits acquired in northern lands, where 

 the summer sun never sets, or at least his 

 light never dies out. In a few weeks, 

 however, they adapt themselves to the 

 altered conditions, and become absolutely 

 nocturnal in their habits." 



Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, in "The 



