226 EEMIXISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAN". 



and wbite ; the two middle feathers of the tail are 

 longer than the others, black and sharp pointed, the 

 rest ash coloured; the belly white; legs dusky lead 

 colour. 



The head of the female is of a rusty brown, spotted 

 with black ; the back is of a deep brown, edged with a 

 paler ; the tips of the lesser quill feathers white ; the 

 belly white. 



This species is common in most parts of Europe, and 

 some are taken as far to the eastward as Egypt, from the 

 middle to the end of November, by nets in the marshes 

 before the departure of the waters. ' It is also found at 

 Aleppo, during the wdnter, in plenty ; and also on the 

 borders of the Caspian Sea. During the winter they 

 are numerous in various parts of England, and are 

 caught in the decoys. 



There is little difference in the plumage of both sexes 

 until the following spring after hatching (as is the 

 case in the pintail, the gadwall, and the shoveller, 

 which are all grey, and have no fine plumage) ; but the 

 males about March gain their full plumage, but lose it 

 again the end of July, and with it, in some measure, 

 their note, which they regain, and always use during 

 their flight, and which may be heard a considerable 

 distance, sounding like the fife. Great numbers of 

 widgeon are shot by the fishermen during the winter, for 

 their livelihood, in the back waters which run up from 

 the sea between the towns of Poole and Wareham, in 

 Dorsetshire. They use flat bottom boats, and have 

 generally two long guns ; mth one the}^ shoot at the wild 

 fowl feeding on what they find on the mud, and give 

 them a discharge ; with the second gun, when they rise. , 

 This is a most arduous way for these poor ixien to get 



