332 HABITS OF WIGEON, 



cannot, I trust, class the subject better than by con- 

 cluding, under this head, with what further remarks 

 may be useful as to wigeon, and reserve those for 

 hoopers, geese, and curres till after we have taken up 

 our heavy artillery, without which but little can be 

 done with these, or any other birds that are commonly 

 killed by day. 



WEATHER. Fog, snow, or any other hazy 

 weather, is very bad, as it makes every thing on the 

 water appear large and black, and then it is that these 

 birds (and indeed all others) soon take alarm. The 

 novice fancies just the reverse ! Fog in the fens and 

 marshes, however, is sometimes the best weather, al- 

 though quite the reverse on the sea. 



Bright starlight is the very best of all times for 

 getting at birds, as the tide flows over the mud; par- 

 ticularly if there is a little breeze, without wind 

 enough to blacken the shallow water. If a cold black 

 frost, so much the better. 



Even in moonlight, wigeon are easier approached 

 than in hazy weather. In white frosts wigeon are 

 often restless. In rain they are constantly flying and 

 pitching. In very dark weather they are suspicious, 

 and more on the watch than in starlight ; but, if the 

 wind blows fresh enough to drown the noise of a 

 launching-punt, some " heavy shots" may now and 

 then be made, by sweeping the surface of the mud to 

 the sound of where the flock is walking and feeding. 

 This may sometimes be within thirty yards of the 

 *' launcher? In mild weather, wigeon are generally 



