WIGEON. 87 



WIGEON. 



t 

 COMMON WIGEON. 



PLATE CXCII. FIGURE If. 



Anas penelope, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Mareca penelope, SELBY. JENYNS. 



rilHESE birds visit northern countries for the most 

 -*- part to breed Norway, Sweden, and others. 

 They begin to pair by about 'St. Valentine's Day.' 



Mr. Selby and Sir William Jardine have found the 

 nest in Sutherlandshire, on Loch Laigal, Loch Hope, 

 Loch Shin, and Loch Naver, and also on smaller waters 

 near Lairg. 



They build among rushes, grass, flags, and reeds, 

 or low bushes where there are such, and use the former 

 materials and leaves in the construction of the nest, the 

 lining being supplied with down from the bird's own 

 body. The situation chosen is the neighbourhood of some 

 lake or river, and the nest itself is cleverly concealed. 



The eggs are from five to eight, or, Meyer says, 

 ten or twelve in number. They are of a fine cream- 

 white colour. 



When the hen bird begins to sit, the male retires 

 into seclusion. The incubation of the eggs continues 

 for twenty-four or twenty-five days. The young, as 

 soon almost as hatched, betake themselves to the water. 



