316 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xm. 



depth to which the bird descends ; though, that this relation 

 is correctly expressed by the rule I have given above, I am 

 not yet prepared to afhrm, in view of the liability to error 

 in the method of observation. J. M. Dewar. 



Black-tailed Godwit in Forfarshire. — Mr. D. G. 

 Hunter records {Scot. Nat., 1919, p. 198) that he watched 

 for some time and very closely an example of Limosa limosa 

 at Elliot on September 3rd, 1919. 



LETTER. 



AMERICAN WIGEON IN STIRLINGSHIRE AND FIFESHIRE. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — With reference to the notes on the American Wigeon having 

 been seen in StirHngshire and Fifeshire (antea, pp. 244 and 299), is 

 it not highly probable that these were birds bred from captive parents 

 and, owing to the War, were not pinioned ? I know personally of some 

 which were hatched and not pinioned in Northumberland in 1914-15. 

 It may be thought improbable that these birds would escape for so 

 long a period, but a male Common Wigeon which I have had since 

 1910 is still about, though not fed since 1914-15, and also a male 

 Pintail, hatched 191 4, comes back at intervals and I saw him on 

 March 20th, and he still remembered the whistle and came up within 

 fifteen yards, which astonished me, as I had been away over four and 

 a half years. M. Portal. 



High Sandhoe, Hexham. 



[Although both birds appeared to be wild ones, of course there is 

 always the possibility of their having been bred from captive birds, 

 and unfortunately this is so with many rare " Waterfowl." — Eds.] 



