ON CONTINENTAL WATERS 227 



in Scotland Mr. J. G. Millais informs me that the 

 brent killed in these localities usually belong to the 

 light-breasted type (B. Glaucogaster). 



Widgeon begin to arrive at Groningen and Fries- 

 land about the second week in September, and by 

 the fifteenth of that month there are enough birds 

 for the punter to start operations. It is not, how- 

 ever, until about September 25 that the geese and 

 widgeon arrive in the immense numbers that are to 

 be seen at times on the banks at Holwerd and 

 around the ' Griend.' September 22 was the earliest 

 date at which Captain Gould says he saw a great 

 migration of widgeon, and the passage continued 

 in greater or less intensity at uncertain intervals 

 until the middle of December, according to the 

 period at which the frost set in. Three or four large 

 migrations of fowl occur in a season ; but no doubt 

 many birds pass in the night that are not noticed. 

 On November 8, 1889, a vast migration of widgeon 

 took place, and thousands pitched in the Lauwers Zee, 

 near Dokkumer Zyl. Being anchored at that time on 

 the Dokkumer Diep he went afloat in his punt before 

 daylight next morning, naturally expecting to secure 

 one or two fine shots. Not a bird, however, was to 

 be seen, as they had all departed in the night. On 



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