THE WIGEON. 181 



this I know to be a fact, by their singular whistling 

 noise, which is heard at all hours. 



On January 26. 1832, for the first time, I satis- 

 fied myself beyond all doubt of what I had long 

 suspected, namely, that wigeons feed upon grass, 

 exactly after the manner of geese. A flock of them 

 was then feeding opposite the windows. I took the 

 large telescope, and distinctly saw them feeding 

 voraciously on the green short blades of grass. 

 Whilst I am writing this (January 12. 1835) the 

 ground is covered with snow, except under some 

 large elm trees ; and at the root of these there are, 

 just now, above one hundred wigeons and thirty 

 coots, all feeding on the grass which is not concealed 

 by the snow. 



In other places, where persecution is the wigeon's 

 lot, no doubt it will be very shy in frequenting pas- 

 tures during the day ; and, of course, it will be 

 compelled, contrary to its natural habits, to seek 

 for food throughout the night, in company with 

 its congeners. 



As the ordinary food of the wigeons is evidently 

 grass, perhaps there may not be a sufficient supply 

 of it in those high northern regions, whither the 

 water-fowl are supposed to repair when they leave 

 us in spring. Should this conjecture prove well 

 founded, we can account for the wigeon remaining 

 with us till the beginning of May, at which period 

 all the migratory water birds (saving a few teal, 

 which are known to breed in England) must be 

 busily employed, far away from us, in the essential 

 work of incubation. 



N3 



