TJIE WIG EON. 131 



The Wigeoii is not iieai'ly so shy and timid as other 

 water- fowl ; and where the feeding grounds are contiguous 

 to dwelHngs, the birds soon acquire a considerable degree 

 of familiarity and confidence. It is very easily kept in 

 confinement, and soon becomes domesticated. Mr. Yarrell 

 states that it has not been known to breed during captivity. 



The male Wigeon is subject to the same strange change 

 of plumage that is noticeable in the Wild Duck, and as 

 soon as the female commences laying he loses his handsome 

 appearance^ and assumes a sombre aspect, which continues 

 until the autumn. During this change of feathering the 

 bird leaves his mate and family, and seeks the solitude 

 afforded by willow swamps, marshes, and unapproachable 

 morasses. 



The length of the adult male Wigeon is about eighteen 

 inches. The bill is brownish-black, tinged with lead colour ; 

 irides, dark brown ; a streak of green passes backwards 

 from the eye ; the top of the head and forehead is cream 

 colour ; the cheeks and back part of the neck, rich reddish- 

 chestnut ; scapulars and all the back, greyish-white, 

 crossed with irregular zigzag lines of black ; upper tail- 

 coverts, freckled with grey ; tail feathers are long, pointed, 

 and nearly black ; wing-coverts, white, tipped with black ; 

 the primaries, dark brown ; the outer webs of the second- 

 aries form a rich green reflection, edged with black ; the 

 black outer webs of the tertials, edged broadly with 

 white ; front of neck and chin, almost black ; lower part 

 of the neck, pale rufous ; the sides, flanks, and underneath 

 the wings are marked with dark cross zigzag lines, on a 

 white ground ; breast, belly, and vent, white ; under tail- 

 coverts, velvet black ; legs and toes, dark brown. 



In the female the head and neck are brown, tinged 



