326 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



base of the tail ; the wings buff-coloured, the 

 upper wing-feathers edged with black and white, 

 and a dark coppery-green wing-spot ; the bill, 

 legs, and feet slate-gray. 



The plumage of the female, which is also 

 assumed by the male in the breeding season, is 

 of a brown colour above (mottled), and white 

 below. Saunders states that it does well in con- 

 finement, breeds freely, and that it has been 

 known to mate with the widgeon and common 

 duck, the produce of a cross between the pintail 

 and the mallard being singularly handsome. 



Next to the common wild-duck, the widgeon 

 is, perhaps, more generally and plentifully distri- 

 buted throughout Britain and Ireland during the 

 winter months than any other variety of the 

 genus. Large numbers of these birds find their 

 way to the poulterers' shops, being caught in 

 the shore-nets on the East coast during the 

 autumn. The note of this bird is familiar to all 

 wild-fowl gunners, and is peculiar, being a kind 

 of whistle, from which fact it possibly derives its 

 name. Its length is twenty inches. It may 

 readily be distinguished by the yellow colour of 

 the crown of its head, from which it is sometimes 

 termed the golden-headed widgeon. With the 

 exception of the forehead and crown, the head 

 and neck are of a dark chestnut colour with 

 small dark green spots on the cheeks and back 

 of the neck ; the upper part of the breast is white, 

 the lower gray ; the back and flanks light gray 



