WIGEON. 



MARECA PENELOPE {Linn.). 



Anas penelope, Linn. S. N. i. p. 202 (1766) ; Naum. xi. 



p. 724 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 412. 

 Mareca penelope, Macg. v. p. 83 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 397 ; 



Dresser, vi. p. 541. 



Canard siffleur, French; Pfeif-Ente, German; Silbon, 

 Pato franciscano, Spanish. 



To most parts of Great Britain this well-known species 

 is an autumnal visitor, but it breeds pretty abundantly 

 in the north of Scotland and in smaller numbers in 

 certain parts of Ireland. The Wigeon differs from the 

 true Ducks and the Pochards not only in its habit of 

 feeding by day as well as by night, but also by grazing 

 on meadow-grass, after the manner of the Geese, and 

 by its comparatively light and active carriage on land. 



It flocks in enormous numbers on our tidal estuaries 

 during the winter, and is the principal object of pursuit 

 of most of the coast gunners, its habits of swimming, 

 flying, and feeding on the mud in very close order often 

 afford excellent opportunities for " heavy shots." 



The note of the male bird is a shrill double whistle, 



