THE WIGEON. 181 
this I know to be a fact, by their singular whistling 
noise, which is heard at all hours. 
On January 26. 1832, for the first time, I satis- 
fied myself beyond all doubt of what I had long 
suspected, namely, that wigeons feed upon grass, 
exactly after the manner of geese. A flock of them 
was then feeding opposite the windows. I took the 
large telescope, and distinctly saw them feeding 
voraciously on the green short blades of grass. 
Whilst I am writing this (January 12. 1835) the 
ground is covered with snow, except under some 
large elm trees; and at the root of these there are, 
just now, above one hundred wigeons and thirty 
coots, all feeding on the grass which is not concealed 
by the snow. 
In other places, where persecution is the wigeon’s 
lot, no doubt it will be very shy in frequenting pas- 
tures during the day; and, of course, it will be 
compelled, contrary to its natural habits, to seek 
for food throughout the night, in company with 
its congeners. 
As the ordinary food of the wigeons is evidently 
grass, perhaps there may not be a sufficient supply 
of it in those high northern regions, whither the 
water-fowl are supposed to repair when they leave 
us in spring. Should this conjecture prove well 
founded, we can account for the wigeon remaining 
with us till the beginning of May, at which period 
all the migratory water birds (saving a few teal, 
which are known to breed in England) must be 
busily employed, far away from us, in the essential 
work of incubation. 
nN 3 
