30 WIGEOff, 



and early in October, or later with the weather. Meyer 

 speaking of their migrations, 'These journeys are generally 

 performed during the night, at which time the birds fly at no 

 great elevation, and may easily be known by their continued 

 whistling; when the journeys are continued during the day, 

 the birds fly very high, and in the usual manner of Ducks 

 following one another; but these birds fly so very close 

 upon the heels of their leader, that it forms a distinguishing 

 peculiarity.' 'The young keep among the rushes and reeds 

 in the lakes; the old birds betaking themselves to the shallows 

 on the coast.' 



In its natural habits the Wigeon is far from shy, and is 

 easily tamed. It is, however, in this country, in its wild 

 state, obliged to learn to provide for its security by suitable 

 precaution. Lord Stanley had a male Wigeon which paired 

 with a female Pintail that had previously bred in confinement. 

 Eggs were laid two successive seasons, but the first year 

 they were destroyed, and the second she forsook them. In 

 the 'Gardener's Chronicle' of April, 1842, it is stated, 'A 

 few years since a pair of Wigeons were kept in the river 

 which bounds the Botanic Gardens at Bury St. Edmonds. 

 The male bird was shot during the winter, and the following 

 spring was succeeded by a wild one, no doubt attracted by 

 the call of the female, by whom it had several young ones, 

 which all left at the usual period of migration except the 

 pinioned parent. Last year a male bird again made its 

 appearance, and another brood was the consequence; a small 

 portion of their wings have been taken off, and they are 

 now become as tame as any of the water-fowl.' The Wigeon 

 is much esteemed for the table. It is a sprightly and gay 

 bird, and is a great ornament to a piece of water. 



This species feeds principally on water-insects and their 

 larva?, small mollusca, worms, the fry of fish, and frogs; as 

 also the buds, shoots, leaves, and seeds of plants, and grass; 

 and these it browses on in the daytime, but it chiefly seeks 

 its food in the mornings and evenings, and also at times in 

 the night. 



The note is a whistling or whewing cry. 



These birds visit northern countries for the most part to 

 breed Norway, Sweden, and others. They begin to pair by 

 about 'St. Valentine's day.' 



They build among rushes, grass, flags, fern, and reeds, or 

 low bushes where there are such, and use the former materials 



