COMMON WIDGEON. 133 



throughout India; in the rivers and tanks, found 

 in large flocks." 



They are frequently kept in confinement, and 

 thrive well, though they have not, Mr. Yarrell 

 states, bred in this condition, that is, the female 

 has not laid eggs or incubated naturally, while the 

 male has mated occasionally with the pintail, and 

 with some varieties of the domestic duck. The 

 following notice, however, taken from the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, seems to be an instance of breeding, at 

 least in a partial confinement. 



" A few years since a pair of widgeons were 

 kept in the river which bounds the Botanic Garden 

 at Bury St. Edmunds. The male bird was shot 

 during the winter, and the following spring was 

 succeeded by a wild one (no doubt attracted by the 

 call of the female), by whom it Itad several young 

 ones, which all left at the usual period of migration, 

 except the pinioned parent. Last year a male bird 

 again made its appearance, and another brood was 

 the consequence ; a small portion of their wings have 

 been taken off", and they are now become as tame as 

 any of the water-fowl." * 



The male widgeon, like most of the other ducks, 

 receives his full and beautiful plumage in complete 

 perfection in spring, putting it on in winter, but 

 gradually attaining more brilliancy as the season for 

 pairing advances; while, after incubation, it be- 

 comes of a more unobtrusive description, approach- 

 ing nearly to that of the female. 



* N. S. Hodson, Gard. Chronicle for April 1842. 



