MAltECA PENELOrE. 157 



The Wigeon is found thronuhoiit Europe at different seasons, beino- u 

 permanent resident in some ol: tlie northern countries ; practically 

 throughout Asia, though rare to the east, breeding in the north and 

 wintering soutli ; in Northern Africa in the cold Aveather as far south as 

 Al)yssinia, Southern Egypt and to Madeira. It also wanders as far as 

 North-eastern America. 



Within our limits it is found practically everywhere except in the 

 extreme south and in Ceylon. It is decidedly connnon in Cachar and 

 Svlhet to my own knowledge, not rare in Goalpara and Kamrup, in 

 whicli districts I have shot it, and is found throughout the province of 

 Assam, whilst in Burma it has been recorded from N. Tenasserim. It 

 will be noticed that in certain localities one person records this Teal as 

 l)eing verv })lentiful. whilst another, who may be e(pially good an observer 

 and naturalist, says it is never found. This is due to the fact that the 

 Wigeon is most irregular in its visits, and whilst it comes one year in 

 hundreds and ev(>n thousands to certain parts, yet these localities may be 

 hunted in vain the following season for a single specimen. 



Notes recorded by various ornithologists and sportsmen would seem to 

 show that in years of heavy rainfall the Wigeon does not visit India in 

 the same numbers as it does in drier years. 



Thus, Eeid writes of Oudli : — '"The Wigeon is Ijyno means unconnnon, 

 though it is, I think, rather erratic in its wanderings, being much more 

 common in some seasons than in others. During the past cold weather, 

 for instance, when the jhils were much below the average size, and many 

 of the smallei- ones altogether dry, I did not expect to meet with it ; but, 

 as a matter of fact, it was much more common than I had ever known it 

 to be before." 



Again, Yidal: — " ^Vigeon, in some years, are very abiuidant on the 

 Vashishti IviAcr, congregating in large Hocks of five huiulred ])irds 

 or more, but they are not, like Common Teal, widely distributed. In 

 1878-79, after the highest rainfall on record, not a Wigeon was to bo 

 found in the district; but in 1870-80, after a year of moderate rainfall, 

 they reap[)eared in tlieir usual strength on the Vashishfi." 



Davidson notes it ;is rare in Mysore, but Major Mclnroy says that a 

 fair number may be met with in parts. The oidy Avay I can at all account 

 for the Wigeon being more common in dry tlian in wet seasons is because 

 it is very much of a shallow-water or 1)ottom fee(k'r. In very wet seasons 

 the lakes, jliils, })onds, etc. all overflow theii' normal limits, and thus the 

 edges of the shallow water cover ground on which no water-weeds grow, 



