AXATID^. 223 



been shot on the Taw, and brought to the bird-stuffer, which he thought 

 might possiblj' prove to be an exam]jle of the American Wir/con, Mareca 

 nrnericana (Gm.). Shortly afterwards this bird was forwarded to us, and 

 quite a conclave of ornithologists of repute, who then chanced to be in our 

 neighbourhood, sat upon it, and pronounced it to be, without doubt, a 

 specimen of the American. Wigeon, and we accordingly labelled it as such, 

 and until quite lately felt no suspicion that it was anything else, even 

 after comparing it with adalt skins of the American species in our posses- 

 sion. But being unwilling to record this specimen in our book, if tbere 

 was the least doubt about it, we took it recentlj' to the South Kensington 

 Museum, where, with Dr. Sliarpe's kind help, Ave were able to compare it 

 with skins and mounted examples of the American "Wigeon in various 

 stages, with the result that we were quite satisfied that our bird was, 

 after all, only a Common Wigeon in a very abnormal condition of plumage. 

 "What seemed to us an unfailing distinction between the American and 

 the Common "Wigeon was the head and throat of the latter being spotted 

 in all stages, whereas the same parts in the former are as invariably 

 stnated. 



The following interesting description of 'flight-shooting' for Wigeon is 

 from the pen of Mr. Edmund A. 8. Elliot of Kingsbridge, who has kindly 

 allowed us to use it for this work : — 



""WiGEOx ! the very name excites one, and many a success and failure 

 in pursuit of Master Yellow-Poll occurs to one, and many a tragic incident, 

 at any rate as concerned our quarry. Now the traffic on the Estuary has 

 so much increased, flight-shooting is not what it used to be fiftee]i or 

 twenty years ago ; and the favourite method now is to get a pot-shot by 

 going down uudercliff at night, as the tide is rising at the same time that 

 the moon is waxing ; lying up, and waiting till the fast-disappearing mud- 

 banks drive the hungry birds towards the shore in search of food. Many 

 arc thus obtained at a shot, and one gunner — and a most enthusiastic one 

 to boot — often gets eight to twelve with the aid of an eight-bore, and a 

 clever terrier, Avhich retrieves the birds, sometimes bringing in two at a 

 time. 



"Flight-shooting, however, has greater charms; there is not that long, 

 long, wait in the cranjj)ed-up position one has to adopt ibr the most 

 popular method of ol)taining birds, Init taking a stand under shelter of a 

 hedge on the east side of the Estuary, Avhero ihc birds pass over on their 

 way I'rom Slapton Ley, shooting may be o))tained from twilight till alter 

 dark. Many a time have I stood thus, with not a sound to bicak the 

 stillness of the night, except the weird croak of the lleion, or shrill cry 

 of tlie CJurlew, as they are driven oft' their feeding-ground 1))' the incoming 

 tide ; presently a ' whee-au, whee-au,' and a swisli of Avings, ])roclaim the 

 advent of Wigeon, and, almost before one can Avink, the birds have passed 

 and arc out of eliot. Xoav tlie calls Iwcome more frequent, and one knows 

 the birds are arriving thickly, but rather out of one's lino; but see against 

 the rising moon tliere comes a bunch — look out overhead and let drive ! 

 ere like a flash they have passed too far — thud, thud, is eclnad U) our 



