246 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



persecution of the punters, both by night and day, will not induce 

 them to leave it; though they thus become remarkably wary, and 

 difficult of access. A company of widgeon sometimes consists of 

 several thousand birds, which, when flying in the air, resemble a large 

 dark cloud ; and when they have alighted on the surface, the com- 

 pany is often so extensive as to cover many acres of water 



" Their numbers being so great, the waters covering quite, 

 That, rais'd, the spacious air is darkened with their flight."* 



They become exceedingly watchful after frequent attempts on the 

 part of the fowler to approach them ; but they are sometimes a little 

 off their guard, and the indefatigable sportsman who may have 

 made many unsuccessful attempts will, sooner or later, be rewarded 

 for his pains with a highly remunerative shot, such as will amply 

 compensate him for his perseverance. When, through a continuation 

 of coarse weather, such as during many days precludes the sportsman 

 from following his pursuits, a few calm days succeed or intervene, 

 then is a glorious opportunity for the punter, who, with his best skill, 

 may generally succeed with the previously unapproachable widgeon. 

 They form the chief diversion for the punter at night, and afford him 

 the fairest opportunity by day. The sportsman may also have fine 

 sport with them under sail, either with shooting-yacht or sailing-boat. 

 The sailing-punt is in like manner an excellent means by which to 

 approach them by day. Many thousands of these beautiful little ducks 

 generally arrive at various parts of the coast early in October ; and if 

 easterly winds prevail during the latter part of September, they come 

 at that time. The male birds arrive first ; and in early spring, when 

 wild-fowl leave our shores for their northern migrations, the cocks are 

 the first to go by themselves, the hens following a few weeks later. 



Widgeon are considerably more abundant on the eastern coast than 

 elsewhere, though they frequent the southern coast in great numbers. 



The sportsman who pursues them by night, with punt and gun, 

 will be guided to their whereabouts entirely by their notes an in- 

 teresting call, or whistle, sounding like the nondescript words 

 "Wheow!" or " Wheoh !" which, when once familiar to the ear, 

 cannot be mistaken, no other wild-fowl making a similar noise. 

 In foggy weather widgeon are always more silent than at any other 

 time. In cold weather they sit very close together, and assemble in 



* Drayton. 



