100 BRITISH BIRDSj TREIB, EGGS AND NESTS. 



250. WIGEON (Anas Penelope). 



Whewer, Whim. Mr. Waterton has recorded an observation 

 on the habits of this Duck, which is of great interest. Whereas, 

 all the birds of the Duck-kind which we have hitherto named are 

 night-feeders, the Wigeon obtains its food by day, "and that 

 food is grass/' The great body of our winter visitors of this 

 species retire to the north to breed about the end of March, or 

 April ; but a few have been ascertained to remain for that pur- 

 pose in north Scotland. A nest, found on Loch Laighal in 

 Sutherlandshire, was placed in the midst of a clump of grass, and 

 was made of decayed rushes and reeds, with a lining of its own 

 down. The eggs were smaller than those of the Wild duck, and 

 of a rich cream-white colour." The number of eggs laid varies 

 between five and eight or nine; the length, 2J inches by 1^ 

 in breadth. 



251. AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas Americana}. 

 Of entirely rare and accidental occurrence. 



252. EIDER DUCK (Somatena mallmwci). 



St. Cuthbert's-duck. We have now arrived at another section 

 of the Duck familv. Those hitherto named all frequent the 

 fresh waters, and chiefly affect those that are of no great extent 

 or depth. These, the first of which we have just named, fre- 

 quent the sea or, in a few instances, the deepest parts of large 

 freshwater lakes. The Eider duck, well-known to most of us lay 

 name, to some of us by sight, breeds in some marshes on the 

 Fame islands, and in many of the islands on the coast of Scotland. 

 The nests are principally composed, on a foundation of sea-weed 

 or grass, of the beautiful light elastic down, commonly known as 

 Eider-down ; and if the first is plundered, a second, and even a 

 third are formed ; but the down decreases in quality and quantity 

 in each successive instance. The first accumulation is so large 

 and springy as quite to conceal the eggs contained, which are 

 usually five in number, and are of a light-green colour, about three 

 inches long by two wide. The lining of one nest, admitting of 

 easy compression by the hand, is described by Mr. Hewitson as 

 capable, when fully expanded, of filling a man's hat. 



253. KING DUCK (Somatena spectabilis}. 



A much rarer bird than the last ; indeed occurring, only very 

 casually. It has been known to breed in one of the Orkney 

 Islands, while Iceland, Nova Zembla, Spitzergen, and like locali- 

 ties, are the great breeding haunts of the species. The nests are 

 made on the ground, and contain five eggs, very closely resem- 

 bling the Eider-duck's, except in size. They are rather less. 



