224 HANDBOOK OF BKITISH INLAND BIRDS 
marshy sedges, or heather, and the eight to a 
dozen eggs are a little larger than the Teal's, and 
creamy white, without a tinge of green. 
WIDGEON. 
[Mareca penelope.) 
Whewer, Whew Duck. — Great numbers of 
Widgeon visit our coasts and estuaries in hard 
winter weather, but on inland waters it is com- 
paratively rare. It breeds in some parts of Scot- 
land, chiefly in the wilds of Sutherland, and has 
been known to do so in England. The Drake may 
be recognised by the light yellow patch on his 
chestnut head, the neck being chestnut also. The 
Duck is chiefly greyish-brown, a good deal stained 
with dingy white ; there is, in particular, a white 
patch along the fore part of the wing, but it is less 
conspicuous than in the case of the Drake. The 
Widgeon feeds on grass and grass-like water-weeds 
by day as well as by night. The Drake has a con- 
spicuous whistling cry ; though a surtace-feeder, 
and not one of the true diving-Ducks, this species 
will dive readily and actively. The nest and its 
situation are similar to those of the last species, 
and the seven to ten eggs, about the size of the 
Mallard's, are less green in colour. 
