\\ ILDFOWL IN THE LONDON PARKS AND 

 ELSEWHERE. 



( Reprinted from " TJie Field" Neicspaper, April, 1865.; 



Ix The Field of Jan. 28, H. H. mentions several sorts of wild 

 ducks, with perfect wings, as having been observed by him on the 

 ornamental waters in the London Parks. Some years since I 

 saw several mature Wigeon which could and did fly, and I was 

 as much surprised and puzzled as he is. This bird will not ap- 

 parently reproduce its species in confinement,* and in a wild state 

 it is a wary bird, and seldom admits of a near approach, even 

 when pressed for food by severe weather; its food seems to con- 

 sist entirely of vegetable substances, and it is pretty to see them 

 nibbling the grass like small geese. It probably never remained 

 to breed in England; it arrives in September, the old drakes 

 then having the white patch on the wing, a sign of maturity, but 

 having the freckled portions of their plumage mixed more or less 

 with the bright rusty-coloured feathers of the summer plumage 

 yet remaining. Young drakes of the former year sometimes re- 

 main till May, by which time they have nearly acquired their 

 full plumage; but many of them have not then got the white 

 patch on the wing. Many young drakes are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from ducks till far into winter, only traces of the freckled 

 plumage being visible when closely looked for. This bird seems 

 equally at home in salt or fresh water, and consequently remains 

 with us in considerable numbers during the most severe weather ; 

 when severe frost sets in it flies direct from the fresh water to 

 the sea, not remaining, as the mallard often does, in sheltered 

 places, amongst bushes in burns and small rivers. Those which 



* I put it thus, as I have seen hybrids between the Wigeon and Mallard 

 bred in confinement, also between the Pintail and Mallard, and a hybrid be- 

 tween the Wigeon and Pintail, a drake of which had been sent to the London 

 market amongst other wildfowl. 



