110 ANATIDyE, 



The following note on the instinct of a wigeon appears in the 

 MS. journal of the late John Templeton^ Esq. : — " August 3, 

 1810. Being accustomed to have tamed wild-fowl ^ ^ ^ X 

 have remarked that the cry expressive of danger was understood 

 by all, though of different species, and never heard by them be- 

 fore. Some years ago I had a tamed wigeon {Anas penelojpe), 

 wliich was accustomed to go about my house. On a hawk 

 appearing in sight, a common hen gave the scream of terror, and 

 the wigeon, perfectly understanding that danger was at hand, fled 

 to me for protection, and remained crouched close to my feet till 

 all apprehension of peril was past.""^ 



A wild-fowl shooter has remarked to me, from his own expe- 

 rience, that shelldrakes, scaups, wigeon, teal, and brent geese, are 

 much more easily tamed than the mallard or wild duck. Winged 

 wigeon, placed on the pond at the Falls, soon became tame, but 

 never bred either among themselves or with other species. The 

 males were pugnaciously disposed towards each other. 



On examining the food contained in a number of wigeon shot 

 in Belfast Bay at various periods, and in weather of all kinds, I have 

 found only the remains of vegetable matter and sand. Their 

 food, like that of the brent geese, is the Zostera. As this plant 

 is to be had duiing their stay, they are considered good for 

 the table all the time ; unlike those on the Northumberland 

 coast, that are obliged to resort to a different kind of food which 

 renders them rank after Christmas. t An observant shooter is of 

 opinion that the brent geese and wigeon nip off the withered top 

 of the Zostera, and eat the heart and root of the plant — but they 

 certainly eat the sound portions of the long leaves also. Our 

 wigeon, thus Hving in the midst of plenty, are not disposed 

 or compelled, like the American species described by Wilson, to 

 rob either the canvas-backed duck or any of its tribe of their 

 labours. J In February 1848, I was sent a plant found in a 

 wigeon by one of our oldest wild- fowl shooters, who reported his 



* Communicated to Mrs. Priscilla Wakefield, for her ' Anecdotes of Animals.' 



t Selby, vol. ii. p. 325. 



i Sir William Jardiue's edition of ' Amer. Ornith.' vol. iii. p. 110. 



